Kilclooney More, County Donegal
Two portal tombs, the little and large of Irish dolmens, stand at opposite ends of a long cairn, the larger one looming conspicuous on the skyline to the east of the Narin road, 4 miles north-north-east of Ardara. It is a truly remarkable structure, not only on account of its size and poise, but also for the ever changing profile it presents from different viewpoints: 'a prehistoric study in aerodynamics'; 'a great hat on legs'; 'a flying saucer landed in the bog'; 'a giant bird poised for flight' - these are some of the resemblances inspired by its intriguing form.
A magnificent granite capstone, broadly triangular in shape and measuring 19 feet across at its widest point, oversails the 6-feet high portal stones at the chamber entrance on the east. Its lower end rests on a 'chocking stone' which lifts it clear of the backstone of the chamber. The smaller dolmen at the west end of the cairn is partly collapsed and is crossed by a field wall, but still has its capstone in position over the rectangular chamber of two sidestones and a backstone. It also faces east and like the larger tomb, has a low sill between the portal stones, one of which is fallen. Some fragments of Neolithic pottery were the only finds from the site.
Gortavern, County Donegal
Sited in boggy pasture in the Burnside river valley, slightly less than 1 mile south of Carrowkeel and 1/4 mile east of the road to Rathmelton, 'Dermot and Grania's Bed' is one of the county's lesser known megaliths, a somewhat disturbed but largely complete portal tomb.
Two tall uprights at the entrance and a low backstone support a steeply angled capstone with a length of 12 feet, now slipped from its original position over the chamber, one of whose sidestones is fallen. Nonetheless, this remains a fine example of its class. Several cupmarks have been noted on top of the capstone.
Poulnabrone, County Clare
The stark but beautiful landscape of The Burren in north-west Clare is famed both for its unique flora and for a remarkable concentration of prehistoric remains, notably wedge tombs of a distinctive local type, and more particularly for this celebrated portal tomb which in the minds of many has become an icon of megalithic Ireland. It rises from an expanse of grey limestone pavement, 5 miles south of Ballyvaghan, its dramatic profile instantly recognisable against the sky, with a splendid 12-feet long tabular capstone soaring out over the slender portal stones.
It has been aptly described as resembling a house of cards, and like one it came close to tumbling down some years ago when a severe crack was discovered in one of the portal stones, necessitating its temporary removal for repair. This provided an opportunity to carry out a scientific excavation of the chamber, with rewarding results, adding much to the understanding of the treatment of the dead for collective burial in these tombs.
Click here to buy the Appletree Press book from Amazon.co.uk. For more information click on: Ireland's Ancient Stones - A Megalithic Heritage by Kenneth McNally, published by Appletree Press.
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