Cairn - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

A commission was set up to establish the bounds of the Earl of Ormond's estates in 1589-94. As part of this commission Richard fitz Thomas Brennaghe of the Grenaghe testified as to the extent of the Earl's land in this area. In the course of his statement he mentioned the mill of Kilmacow, and a heap of stones known as the Leacht of Kilmacow (Ormond Deeds, VI, p. 143). There is a feature represented on the Down Survey (1655-6) map of the barony of Iverk (Kilmacow village) that could be interpreted as the 'leacht' referred to in the Ormond deeds. It could be argued that this is a representation of a megalithic tomb in the portal tomb tradition and, in this context, it is worth noting that the famous tomb at Harristown/Kilmogue is known as 'Leac an Scáil'. While the evidence is not sufficient to warrant considering it as a megalithic tomb there appears little doubt but that a 'cairn' existed at Kilmacow, the exact location of which is not known.

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 2 April 2012