Megalithic structure in Crone Beg

There is a report in the National Museum of Ireland [NMI] topographical files from 1930 of 'a cromleach and a large moat or fort' on the land of Joseph Murphy at Crone Beg, Aughrim. The exact location of this has not yet been established. The NMI correspondence recorded the following details about the monument; ‘I have discovered the remains of a Cromleach and a large moat or fort at Cronebeg, Aughrim, I mentioned this to you before I now find that neither the Cromleach or the Fort is marked on the Ordnance Map. The Fort is in a remarkable state of preservation and the paved road leading to it is in an unusual state of preservation. The original fences are yet to be seen in good condition a great part of the way. I pointed out to the owner of the land the spot where one of the two pillars supporting the Cromleach once stood, he was much surprised and said that when a youth he remembered the stone being taken and broken up to build a cow-house. The land is owned by Jos. Murphy, Cronebeg, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow, a large farmer. There were a number of large stones there having holes for grinding corn, one large stone had three such holes and a place for the operator to sit and a place to rest his/her hand for balance. Mr. Murphy smashed it up for railway macadam, he also smashed one or two others before I stopped him. There are several remaining with one or two holes each. He promised to not smash them or the remaining stones of the Cromleach, it was deemed for early smashing if I had not intervened. I am convinced that the whole field is of interest and until recently I believe it has not been interfered with for many centuries. I did not see a stone which I am told resembled a chair and which Murphy smashed before I arrived‘(NMI Correspondence between Donal Ó Dubhghaill and Dr. A. Mahr, 06/12/1930). Compiled by: Claire Breen Revised by; Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 01 April 2019