Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Megalithic tomb - unclassified
Masiness, County Donegal, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Masiness
- County
- Donegal
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- NULL
- Latest-edition OS map
- Dermot and Granias Bed (Site of) (1905)
- Coordinates
- 55.13045, -7.91589
- SMR number
- DG026-028----
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 1881 "Ireland to Illustrate the Military Condition of the Country." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
This feature was first shown on the 1847-9 edition of the OS 6-inch map. There is no trace of it now. In the middle of the 19th century two stones, one upright and the other prostrate, marked the site and were thought to be the last remains of a 'sepulchral monument' known locally as 'Dermot and Grania's Bed' (Fagan 1845-8; OS Revision Name Book, 1847-9). The upright stone was c. 4 feet (c. 1.2m) high, 31/2 feet (c. 1.05m) broad and 6 inches (c. 0.15m) thick. The prostrate stone was 7 feet (c. 2.15m) long, 3 feet (c. 0.9m) broad and 7 inches (c. 0.17m) thick. According to Fagan (1845-8), the upright stone marked the W end of a grave that had measured 71/2 feet (c. 2.3m) long and 4-5 feet (c. 1.2-1.5m) wide, and it was locally believed that the prostrate stone had stood upright at the E end of the grave. All trace of the site had been removed by 1902 (OS 1:2, 500 Name Book, 1902-3).
This may have been a megalithic tomb but cannot be relied on as such on the basis of the available evidence.
Fagan (1845-8), book 2, 15; OS Revision Name Book, sheet 26 (1847-9), 22; OS 1:2,500 Name Book, sheet 26 (1902-3), 44; Ó Nualláin 1983a, 46, no. 134; SMR 1987, 26:28; RMP 1995, 26:28.
The above description was published in the 'Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume VI, County Donegal.' Compiled by: Eamon Cody (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002).
Date of upload: 22 September 2008
Nearby in the register
- Burial groundunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Memorial stoneunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.