Cist

The National Monuments Service's description

On a rise at the top of a NE-SW orientated ridge (above the 500’ contour) in mixed rough pasture and exposed limestone pavement, with an E-W running field wall just to the S, and offering wide views all around. Indicated and labelled as ‘Cromlech’ on the OS 25-inch plan (1897). Indicated and labelled ‘Cromlechs’ on the Cassini edition (1920) of the OS 6-inch map to include a nearby wedge tomb (CL017-015004-) and a megalithic structure (CL017-015001-). Described as a cist by Westropp (1905, 214) and as a ‘long cist in cairn’ by de Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, 94). Listed as ‘Cist’ in the RMP (1996). This small wedge tomb (max. L 2.1m; int. Wth 0.8m at W, narrowing to 0.57m at E; H 0.3-0.4m) lies at the centre of an oval-shaped cairn (6.3m E-W; 4.6m N-S; H 0.4-0.9m). The tomb chamber is orientated E-W, and its remains consist of two roughly parallel sidestones (N stone L 1.5m; S stone L 1.45m; H 0.3-0.4m), set 0.8m apart at the W and 0.57m apart at the E. Two smaller slabs set on edge run N-S between the sidestones near their E end. Another N-S orientated slab is set on edge 0.6m to the W of the sidestones. There is a small, flat-lying slab within the chamber. A megalithic structure (CL017-015001-) lies c. 54m to the S. There is another wedge tomb (CL010-092----) c. 73m to the N, and another (CL017-015004-) c. 85m to the WSW.

 

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott

 

Date of upload: 23-10-2025

References

de Valera, R. and Ó Nualláin, S. 1961 Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland, vol. 1: 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.