Wedge tomb in Mountrussell

Wedge tomb known locally as 'Leaba Iscur' or 'Oscur's Grave' described in the Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland (de Valera and Ó Nualláin 1982) as follows; 'This monument lies about 9.5km south-east of Charleville near the head of a broad valley on the northern side of the Ballyhoura Mountains. The tomb, known as "Leaba Iscur", looks northwards along the valley, across the fertile lowlands of Co. Limerick, to the River Shannon and beyond. The outlook elsewhere is confined by the mountains flanking the valley sides. The valley is covered with bog and this has encroached on the tomb, particularly towards the east where peat, up to 0.25m in thickness, lies above some of the stones. The tomb, which is of unusual construction, is reasonably well preserved though most of the roofstones are missing. It consists of a narrow gallery with sidestones overlapped by corbels in several irregular tiers, which narrow the gap to be spanned by the roofstones. A single roofstone is in position across the middle of the gallery. Lynch's plan and sections show a second roofstone covering the eastern end of the gallery and beneath this an inset backstone but these stones are now missing or are concealed by peat and debris. The structure is surrounded by a low mound reaching little above the level of the enveloping bog. The structure appears to have altered little since Lynch made his plan and sections and all of the sidestones on his drawings can be identified. The more westerly of the four on the northern side of the gallery measures 0.7m by 0.4m and is 0.85m high. The backs of the other three sidestones are concealed. These are all about 0.3m high. Their lengths, from west to east, respectively, are; 1.3m, 1.5m and 1.4m. Four stones are visible on the opposite side of the gallery. That at the west is 0.9m long, 0.35m thick and is 0.2m higher than the stone opposite it at the north. It is exposed to a depth of 1.35m within the gallery. The stone next to this is a largely concealed block measuring 0.7m by at least 0.25m and 0.4m high. The third stone is 1.15m long and 0.35m high and the fourth is at least 1.3m long and 0.4m high. The backs of the last two stones and one end of the eastern stone are concealed. The corbelling at either side of the gallery rises to three tiers high, mid-way along its length. Part of the corbeling at the western end of the northern side and much of that at the eastern end of the opposite side is missing. The corbels are all between 0.2m and 1m in length and 0.15m to 0.4m.in thickness. Lynch's section, "B. B", gives a good impression of the corbels on the northern side of the gallery and the slope of the roof. The cross-section, 'A. A" shows the extant roofstone in position, and resting on four tiers of corbels at either side. The roofstone measures 1.4m by 1.2m and is 0.4m thick. A stone 0.85m long, 0.35m thick and 1.1m high, exposed to a depth of 1.7m within the gallery, stands at the south-western corner of the tomb. It would seem to be the sole representative of an outer wall. The gallery was about 5.4m in length. It is 0.95m wide at the entrance, 1.4m wide beyond the entrance stones and narrows to 0.95m wide at the east. Lynch's section shows a decrease in height from west to east. Despite its unusual roofing the structure can safely be classed as a wedge-tomb. The corbelling can be compared with the less elaborate roofing at Knockshanbrittas (Ti. 15) [TS039-021----]'. See attached photographs and plan of wedge tomb taken from the Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume IV and Lynch 1909-11. Recent photographs supplied courtesy of James O'Brien. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 8 August 2020