Megalithic structure in Loughgur

In rocky pasture on a NW-facing slope located 80m WSW of the Loughgur Cross. The Carraig Aille stone forts (LI032-053002-/003-) are located 235m to N; two crannóga known as 'Balie Islands' (LI032-039001-/002-) are located 550m to NW; a standing stone annotated ’Leagaun’ (LI032-061----) is located 90m to WSW and an archaeological investigation (Excavation Licence Ref: 04E0296), which uncovered archaeological features in 2004 (LI032-317----), is located 30m to S. The site is not depicted on any OSi historic maps. It is not visible on the OSi orthoimage taken 2005-12 or on the Digital Globe orthoimages taken 2011-2013. The site was first described in the early 19th century (Croker 1833, 110) and was described as ‘a tabular stone supported by three stones. It measures in length 7’ [2.13m], in breath 6’ [1.83m] at one end and 4’ [1.22m] at the other. It is one foot [0.3m] in thickness’. O'Kelly (1944, 24) considered it to be ‘a very doubtful site. The stones mentioned seem to be naturally outcropping boulders.’ It is not included in the Megalithic Survey for Co. Limerick either as a known or potential monument (De Valera and Ó Nualláin, 1982, 71-9). The field to the S of the megalithic structure (LI032-054----) was archaeologically investigated by Frank Coyne (Excavation Licence Ref: 02E1266) to see if the site was suitable for a domestic dwelling in 2002 (Coyne 2004, 338). Six trenches were opened by machine on the site, which was a level, grassy field. Each trench was 20m long and 1.5m wide. All were excavated down to the natural, a silty clay with occasional stones. No archaeological material was encountered. See attached Google Street View Oct 2019 and Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Edmond O’Donovan Date of upload: 16 November 2020