Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb
Derrynavahagh, County Clare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Derrynavahagh
- County
- Clare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Indicated (1916)
- Coordinates
- 53.09375, -9.22459
- SMR number
- CL005-011----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Within a large multiperiod field system (CL005-014001-), in rough grazing on a level terrace on the W side of a ridge which extends N from Gleninagh Mountain on the E side of the Caher Valley. There are extensive views over the valley and of Slieve Elva to the W.
A well-preserved wedge tomb consisting of a chamber (L 3.45m; Wth at rear 1.3m; Wth at front 1.7m; H at rear 1m; H at front 1.4m) and a parallel outer wall to the S (L 8m; H at rear 0.6m; H at front 2m) built from large limestone slabs (De Valera & Ó Nualláin 1961, 1-2). Several low set stones and a sharp bank are the vestiges of an outer wall to the N.
The chamber’s sides are formed by very large stones overlapped by smaller parallel slabs set against the outer face of their W ends. There is evidence for dressing on the top of both of the larger sidestones. A broken capstone covers the W end of the chamber but the E end is now uncovered. The E end is closed by tightly fitted backstone and the W end of the chamber is partially closed by a broken stone set perpendicular to the chamber at the N corner, and a low sillstone traverses the gap between this and the S sidestone.
The S outer wall is set 0.5m from the S sidestone. It is parallel to and follows the pitch of the chamber. At its E end, a perpendicular stone partially closes the line between the rear of the S outer wall and the line of where the N outer wall ran, creating a wedge-shaped space to the rear of the chamber. This area is largely filled with small stones, and it is unclear whether or not it represents a rear chamber.
A modern wall, 12m to the E, creates shelter for animals and two turf thuiles are perched on the leading edge of a slightly higher ridge c. 90m SSE.
See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961).
Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Ros Ó Maoldúin
Date of revised upload: 27 July 2022
Nearby in the register
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - cashelunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.