Megalithic structure

The National Monuments Service's description

On the S-facing shoulder of a NE-SW ridge in pasture, commanding wide views out E-S-W. Marked as a rectangular feature named ‘Giant’s Grave’ on both the first (1842) and later, Cassini edition (1920) of the OS 6-inch map. The intervening OS 25-inch plan (1897) depicts a trapezoidal-shaped feature, orientated NNE-SSW (est. L c. 11m; est. Wth at narrower NNE end c. 3m; est. Wth at wider SSW end c. 5m) and labels it ‘Giant’s Grave’. The feature was described as a cist by Borlase (1897, 73). It was recorded by Westropp (1905, 219) as ‘a long, low, pear-shaped earthwork, full of blocks of stone, and measuring 33 feet [c. 10m] east and west, and 14 feet [c. 4.25m] north and south, near the west end; it tapers to a point at the east end. A slab set north and south appears near the west side; but if this be the remains of a cist, there is no other trace of one.’ De Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 94) concluded that these remains did not ‘justify its acceptance as a megalithic tomb.’ During an inspection in 1999 a local person stated that the field had been reclaimed about nine years previously. No visible surface traces survive. There is a hut site (CL010-070002-) c. 40m to the NE.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 12 May 2023

References

Borlase, W.C. 1897 The Dolmens of Ireland, 3 vols. London. Chapman and Hall.

De Valera and Ó Nualláin 1961 Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland, vol. i, County Clare. Dublin. Stationery Office.

Westropp, T. J. 1905 Prehistoric remains (Forts and Dolmens) along the borders of Burren, in the county of Clare. Part 1 – The Eastern Border. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 35, 205-29.