Wedge tomb in Cooleabeg

On level rough outcropping limestone karst and hazel-covered ground. The area to the E is extensively cleared. A poorly surviving wedge tomb, heavily overgrown and difficult to distinguish at the time of inspection in 1997. The following is a summary of de Valera and Ó Nualláin’s (1961, 6-7) description. It is surrounded by a low mound (diam. 8m), crossed by an E-W field wall. Incorporated in this wall is the N sidestone (L 2.45m; if erect H 1.6m; T 0.2-0.25m) which leans S at an angle of c. 45֯. The N sidestone overlies two broken slabs. The W stone (L 1.7m; Wth 1.4m) has a dressed edge and is likely the W end of the S sidestone. The other (L 2.1m) overlies the W one and is likely the other part of the S sidestone. The broken base of the S sidestone (L 1.15m) is set beneath this. Three displaced slabs lie W of the chamber. The S of these (L 3.4m; Wth at W 2.6m; Wth at E 1.7m) is likely the roofstone. To the N of this is a slab (L 2.55m) of uncertain function. The third stone (exposed N edge L 1.3m) is incorporated in the fieldwall. While de Valera and Ó Nualláin (ibid.) noted that the original dimensions of the chamber could not be ascertained, their plan indicates that it was orientated to the SSW and was likely c. 2.5m in length and c. 2.3m wide internally at the open W end, narrowing to c. 1.3m wide towards the rear. The surrounding mound may conceal the remains of a cairn, as exposed in the excavations of two of three wedge tomb (CL017-180002-) in Parknabinnia townland (Ó Maoldúin 2015). Another wedge tomb (CL005-110----) is visible in the neighbouring townland of Colleamore, c. 940m to the ESE. The following items have been uploaded: CL005-109----_01.pdf Details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961). CL005-109----_01.jpg View of overgrown tomb from WNW Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin Date of upload: 3 April 2023

Wedge tomb, dating to the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. Its presence indicates prehistoric settlement activity in the limestone karst landscape.