Megalithic structure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on WSW face of high natural ridge running NE-SW with excellent views in all directions. Well preserved ring-barrow (WM018-090----) with a modern field bank of earth and stone running NW-SE is located 3m E of external bank. There are three large orthostats of megalithic proportions incorporated into the W face of this field bank which may have been the remains of some type of megalithic structure which has been partially levelled. Two of these stones are set longitudinally in a line as if to form the side wall of a chamber with the third stone at NW end running perpendicular as if to form a jamb stone of the chamber (SMR File 27/04/1970). In 1921, when Shaw saw them, they were collectively known as the ‘leegaun’, although he mistakenly placed them ‘on the west, facing the barrow’ (Shaw 1921, 137).

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 20 July 2015

References

Shaw, T.J. 1921 Some notes regarding Slemain Midhe, the probable site of the battlefield of Gairech and Ilgairech, and other places in Westmeath referred to in the Táin Bo Cúailgne. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 51, 133-46.