St Elbas Grave

In mountain bog, on a SW-facing slope and 8m NE of 'Toberelba', a holy well (SL035-073001-). 'St Elba's Grave' consists of three elements: a flat slab, an upright slab and a modern cross. The flat uninscribed rectangular limestone slab (L 3m; Wth 1m; T 0.3m; long axis NE-SW) is obscured along its edges by peat and moss. At the NE end of this slab is an upright rectangular limestone slab (Wth 0.46m; H 0.85m; T 0.15m) cemented to the SW side of the plinth on which the modern cross stands. The slab has been shaped, but not dressed, to give angular corners and is inscribed 'I H S' (the 'S' being reversed). Cemented to the top of this slab, on the same alignment, is a roughly square limestone flag (Wth 0.5m; H 0.4m; T 0.08m). To the NE of the flat slab is a modern granite cross (inscribed 'A M D C' across the arms facing SW) on a plinth of three tiers (base 2.05m square; H 2.9m). On the lowest tier (H 1.1m) are tokens, including some euro coins in a tin, indicating recent pilgrim visits. According to tradition, the large flat stone is the grave of Saint Aillbe and people suffering from illness who sleep soundly overnight on the stone are cured of their ailments (ITA). There is a penitential station (SL035-073003-) 1.6m to SE. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008

A portal dolmen dating to the Neolithic or early Bronze Age; its association with a holy well suggests later Christian pilgrimage activity.