Megalithic structure

The National Monuments Service's description

Megalithic structure and cist (LI032-045002-) located in a field known locally as the 'altar field' and described in 1833 as following; 'Speaking of Lough Gur, Messrs. Fitzgerald and M. Gregor observe, “On Bailenalycailleah hill in this neighbourhood is a cromlech [LI032-046----], near which a stone coffin was found a few years since, with a human skeleton. At less than half a mile south of this are two others [LI032-045002-], one of which has been lately broken down by a farmer, who had two of the stones taken to make pillars for his gateway' (Croker 1833, 108).
This monument was described by O'Kelly (1944, 19) as following; 'This is very much defaced, only one of the side stones of the chamber remaining. Resting on it is another stone which may have been a cap-stone, but this even is not certain, for it was removed by the land-owner who bored a hole in it near one end and used it as a gate-post. It was later returned to the site due to superstitious fears. About 3' [1m] to the E. of these there is a third stone which is partly embedded in a modern fence. It is not possible to say whether this is a collapsed end-, side-, or cap-stone'.
A rescue excavation was carried out on the megalithic structure in 1978 prior to agricultural land improvement works which would result in its removal (Cleary & Jones 1980, 3). The structure prior to excavation was described as following; 'The 'monument' consisted of three limestone boulders of megalithic proportions, which partially overlay each other. Stone A was roughly rectangular and lay in a recumbent position; its dimensions were as follows: maximum length 1.95 m; maximum width 94 cm; maximum thickness 45 cm. Stone B rested on Stone C, with one end abutting Stone A. Stone B dimensions were as follows: maximum length 2 m; maximum width 1.40 m; maximum thickness 38 cm. Stone C, also recumbent, was roughly rectangular; its dimensions were as follows: maximum length 1.45 m; maximum width 80 cm; maximum thickness 50 cm. The 'end stone' apparently rested on modern turf, and abutted Stone A. Its dimensions were maximum length 70 cm; maximum width 40 cm; thickness 25 cm. Deposits of small stones lay strewn in and around the 'monument', probably as a result of field clearance. The activity of cattle beside the 'monument' had reduced the ground level. No other surface indications were present' (Cleary & Jones 1980, 3-5). Excavation revealed a polygonal cist (LI032-045002-) of limestone slabs.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 06 August 2019

References

O'Kelly, M.J. 1944 A survey of the antiquities in the barony of Small County, Co. Limerick. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 4, 16-53.

Croker, T.C. 1833 Druidical remains near Lough Gur,
Co. Limerick. Gentleman's Magazine (February
1833), 105–12.

Cleary, R. M. & Jones, C. 1980 A cist-burial at Ballynagallagh, near Lough Gur, Co. Limerick. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 22, 3-7.