Wedge tomb in Lickbla

The following description is derived from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume III. Counties Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Laoighis, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1972) (See linked document with details). ‘The monument is situated on rolling pasture land some three miles north of Castlepollard. About 1 mile from the site, towards the north-west, the land falls away to low flat bog. To the north the Hill of Mael and the Rock of Curry form the skyline. The tomb is ruined and the orthostats are deeply buried in the enveloping mound. The remains of a long narrow gallery, orientated roughly NNE-SSW, are visible. An outer-wall about 1 m. beyond the eastern side of the gallery is represented by two stones. One stone, near the northern edge of the mound, may be another outer-wall stone. Four prostrate stones lying along the gallery are probably displaced roofstones. These are from 1.30 m. to 2 m. in maximum dimension and between 0.30 m. and 0.50 m. thick. The structure stands in the northern end of a roughly oval-shaped mound about 20 m. long, 14 m. in greatest width and up to 1.50 m. high. The present outline of the mound is probably the result of spill and cultivation. About 1 m. south of the present end of the gallery a depression, about 2.30 m. in diameter, and 0.35 m. deep, is probably the result of robbing. A fence passes within 2 m. of the mound at the north-east. Embedded in the fence, some 2 m. north of the tomb, is a fine erect stone, 1.60 m. long, 0.35 m. thick and 1.15 m. high, which may have once formed part of the structure. Three stones of the western side of the gallery are visible. That at the north is at least 0.55 m. long, 0.20 m. thick and 0.15 m. high. Its north and south ends are concealed. The next sidestone is 4.80 m. to the south. It is 0.40 m. long, 0.35 m. thick and 0.25 m. high. The stone next to this is 0.85 m. long, 0.25 m. thick and 0.50 m. high. The opposite side of the gallery is also represented by three stones. The more northerly is 0.35 m. long, •20 m. thick and 0.20 m. high. The stone next to this is 0.50 m. long, 0.25 m. thick and 0.20 m. high. The third stone is 2.80 m. further to the south. It is 0.50 m. long, 0.30 m. thick and 0.20 m. high. Several points of stone exposed along this side may be the tops of other sidestones but this cannot be decided without excavation. The outer-wall stone at the south is 0.90 m. long, 0.45 m. thick and 0.70 m. high. The second outer-wall stone is in line with the last and 4.50 m. to the north. It is 1.40 m. long, 0.60 m. thick and 1 m. high. Some 4 m. west of this, on the opposite side of the gallery, is an almost prostrate stone which may be a third outer-wall stone. It is 1 m. long, 0.20 m. thick and, if erect, would be 0.50 m. high. Several almost concealed stones around the north end of the tomb are of uncertain function and may only be cairn stones. A displaced stone, 1.20 m. in maximum dimension and 0.50 m. thick, lies at the edge of the mound at the north-east. Though the remains are scant, the tomb can confidently be classified as a Wedge-tomb. The gallery seems to have been at least 7 m. long and about 1.30 m. in width.’ Date of upload: 3 October 2011