Megalithic tomb - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

In a small valley of poorly drained rough pasture, on a low, W-facing shelf directly overlooking a small stream to W, which is overlooked by low limestone cliffs to E and W. The monument is depicted and named on the OS 25-inch map and 1920 edition of the OS 6-inch map as ‘Dermot and Grania’s Bed’. The monument consists of the remains of a gallery (overall dims. c. 5.6m N-S; c. 2.2m E-W) which appears to survive as per the description provided in the Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland (De Valera & Ó Nualláin 1961, 74-5). Two large in situ orthostats define the E side and one large and three small orthostats form the W side of the tomb. Two sod-covered stones form the back stones at the N end, the easternmost of which is tilted forward to S. The largest orthostat (L 2.05m; T 0.34m; H 1.25m) is located at the N end of the W side. A substantial flagstone (L 2.2m; min. Wth 1.7m; min. T 0.18m) is lying partially sod-covered at the N end of the monument. This is likely to be a displaced capstone which has slipped off the top of the monument, probably when the stones on the E side moved out of position. A second partially sod-covered flagstone is located to the immediately W and may have been a secondary capstone. A number of large stones located on the downslope between the monument and the stream are obscured by vegetation and may once have formed part of the monument. The interior is quite sunken and uneven, possibly having been disturbed in antiquity. It is much obscured by vegetation including trees and may have animal activity in the form of burrows. A slight mound (H 0.25m) enclosed the gallery N-SSW. This monument in not of a typical E-W orientation and based on Westropp’s plan, it could be interpreted as a ‘court cairn’ (ibid). A wedge tomb (CL027-019001-) is located c. 450m to SE.

The following items have been uploaded:

CL027-018----_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)
CL027-018----_01.jpg View of monument from N.
CL027-018----_02.jpg From NNW. General view of monument and large boulders on downslope between it (left) and stream (right).
CL027-018----_03.jpg From E. General view of monument (on natural mound).
CL027-018----_04.jpg From WSW. Close view of ex-situ capstone.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney, Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 5 December 2018

References

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