Burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

This is a National Monument in State ownership (No. 423). It is shown on the 1837 OS 6-inch map as rectangular enclosed area (c. 20m E-W; c 13m N-S) marked 'Burial ground', and on the 1920 edition as an oval area, indicated by a dotted line, marked 'Giant's Grave' and Burial ground (disused)'. It consists of a low, approx. oval-shaped mound of earth and stone (14.05m ENE-WSW; 10.2m NNW-SSE) rising to a maximum height of 0.9m. Centrally located on the mound is cross-inscribed slab (MA044-009002-). At the SW end of the mound is a standing stone (MA024-009003-).
de Valéra and Ó Nualláin (1964, Appendix. no. 14, 97-98) assessed this monument as follows: ‘This feature is shown on the O.S. 6”1837 as a “Burial Ground”. The name “Giant’s Grave” first appears on O.S 6” revision of 1893. At the site is a mound about 15.00 m. by 10.00 m. and up to 1.00 m. high. Two pillar-stones, one with an inscribed cross in circle, are set upright in the mound. About forty yards westward are two small heaps of stones about 5.00 m. diameter and .75 m. high. There is no reason to assume that a megalithic tomb existed here.’

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 18 June 2018

References

de Valera, R. and Ó Nualláin, S. 1964 Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland. Volume II Co. Mayo. Dublin. Stationery Office.