Druids Altar — Cloghcor

In pasture, located on the broad, level top of a ridge on the fertile Maugherow peninsula, with panoramic views, encompassing sea, mountains and undulating hills. At E−S the tomb overlooks the broad sweep of Drumcliff Bay, backed by a dramatic line of mountains: Benbulbin, King’s Mountain and Cope’s mountain at E−ESE, the Ballygawley Mountains at SE, the long undulating spine of the Ox Mountain’s at SE−SW, and the squat bulk of Knocknarae at S. The low outline of the Belmullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo is visible across the sea to W, and the Donegal Mountains, Slieve League and the Blue Stacks are visible in the far distance at N−NNE. This portal tomb, named ‘Druid’s Altar’ on the OS 6-inch maps, is ruined, but remains an impressive monument. A special and unusual feature of the tomb is that one of its stones bears rock art (SL007-026001-). The tomb is of relatively simple design. A single large portal slab defines the E side. The W side is formed of three stones, the portal stone and two much smaller stones, one of which appears to be displaced. The capstone has collapsed and overlies a prostrate slab which bears the rock art. The long axis of the tomb is oriented NNE−SSW, with the entrance at NNE marked by the two portal-stones. The two massive upright portal-stones each have a roughly lozenge-shaped cross-section and a sloping top, and are well matched in bulk and height. They are notably different, however, in surface appearance. The E portal-stone (H 2.4m; L 2.5m; T 0.9-1.1m) is a heavily quartzite-bearing, white-speckled gneiss, with a rough, seamed surface; its top comes to a peak at the NE end and slopes markedly down from there towards the back of the tomb. The W portal-stone (H 2.6m; L 1-1.1m: T 1.1.) appears to have been deliberately split, giving it relatively smooth, flat angular surfaces. The positioning of the portal-stones is such that the gap between them narrows from the exterior (Wth 1.3m) to the interior (Wth 0.6m), creating a funnel-like access to the tomb interior. The long E portal is the only stone on the E side of the tomb. The W side, however, is defined by the tall portal-stone and a squat, upright boulder (H 0.7m; L 0.7m; T 0.5m) which abuts its S side, with another stone (L 0.9m; Wth 0.55m; T 0.2), probably displaced, immediately to S. The latter underlies a large prostrate slab (L c. 1.7m E−W; c. 1.3m; T 0.5-0.55m), which bears rock art (SL007-026001-) in the form of a series of cupmarks on its NE side. The original position of this stone is uncertain. It now underlies the massive capstone, and one possibility is that it originally served as a back stone to support the capstone. The capstone (L 3.4m NE-SW) is an angular sandstone slab, with a rough, corroded surface. It narrows markedly from its NE end (Wth 0.85m) towards a broad mid-section and SW end (Wth 2m). It has slipped from its original position and tilts to W, with its SW end slumped heavily onto the ground. Ground surface in the tomb interior forms a low earth and stone mound, rising 0.3-0.5m above surrounding field level. Two loose boulders at the SW end of the tomb appear to be field clearance stones. The entrance of the tomb faces NE, where the sun can be seen rising above low hills on the Summer solstice. Across the Bay, directly E of the tomb, the deep glacial valley of Glencar dips between King’s Mountain and Cope’s Mountain; viewed from the tomb, sunrise at the spring and autumn equinoxes emerges at the base of the silhouetted valley, and golden light fills the valley bowl from base to top (pers. comm. Leo Leydon). Attached images: SL007-026----_01.JPG: Two portal-stones at NNE-facing entrance SL007-026----_02.JPG: E side of tomb SL007-026----_03.JPG: Capstone at SSW end of tomb SL007-026----_04.JPG: W side of tomb; Glencar valley visible in background SL007-026----_01.pdf: details from Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume V. County Sligo. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1989) Date of upload: 9 January 2012 Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 12 August 2021