Welcome to this short tour of some of the more notable megalithic sites around Ireland. This is really just a taster of what Irelands stone and bronze age heritage has to offer, there are many more to be discovered in the categorised sections above. To visit a site, view more photos and find out a bit more, click on the link beside each photo. To continue on to the next page, use the links at the bottom of each page or the small numbered quick links just below this message. Enjoy!
Poulnabrone Dolmen, Co. Clare
Irelands most famous and photographed dolmen sits in the heart of the world-famous Burren landscape in County Clare. Thousands of years of farming and land clearing has caused the underlying limestone to become exposed and weathered into strange and moon-like crevice filled terraces. Poulnabrone Dolmen is made of limestone slabs typical of the many other Bronze Age wedge tombs in the locality. There are only two Dolmens in the Burren but this one is so spectacular that few more are required to make a trip here worthwhile.
This 5,000 year old tomb was excavated in 1985 and the bones of up to 33 people were found as well as the remains of a newborn baby place outside the entrance in the later Bronze Age.
Click here to go to Poulnabrone
Kilclooney More Dolmen, Co. Donegal
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Many portal tombs change form as you walk around them and see them from varying angles, Kilclooney More is simply spectacular from every angle. It is also a very large example of this type of tomb. Click on the link below to see this shape-shifting effect in photos taken during sunrise and sunset.
Click here to go to Kilclooney More.
Brownshill Dolmen aka Kernanstown Dolmen.
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Weighing well over 100 tonnes, Brownshill Dolmen's capstone is the largest in Ireland, and possibly Europe. From the car-park in front of the tomb its hard to appreciate the sheer mass of it, after the short walk along the pathway you discover that this tomb easily dwarfs all others.
click here to see more photos of this tomb
The Mound of the Hostages, Hill of Tara, Co. Meath
The Mound of the Hostages is the oldest structure on the Hill of Tara that survives above ground. It is a neolithic passage tomb with an undifferentiated chamber dating to the stone age, around 3,000 BC. The name is medieaval and bears no relation to its creation and intended function. The passage is orientated so that the rising sun on the cross quater days (half way between the equinoxes) lights up the rear of the chamber and some carvings on a sidestone of the passage.
Click here to go to Tara, with photos also of the Stone of Destiny (Liá Fáil), Rath of the Synods and the Kings Seat.
To return to the tour at any stage, use the link above...
Click on the photo for a larger view.
Towering above the two tall portal stones, the huge 40 tonne capstone balances perilously on its three supports, itself covered in small stones thrown up by the superstitious in the belief that they will be married within a year if the stone does not fall back down. Click on the link below to see more photos of this fine Dolmen and also the angular and mostly complete wedge tomb a few meters away.
Click here to see more photos of this tomb and the nearby wedge tomb.
Proleek Dolmen, Co Louth
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Towering above the two tall portal stones, the huge 40 tonne capstone balances perilously on its three supports, itself covered in small stones thrown up by the superstitious in the belief that they will be married within a year if the stone does not fall back down. Click on the link below to see more photos of this fine Dolmen and also the angular and mostly complete wedge tomb a few meters away.
Click here to see more photos of this tomb and the nearby wedge tomb.
Newgrange Passage Tomb.
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Irelands most famous Megalithic monument, the passage grave at Newgrange is a major tourist attraction with shuttle buses shuttling tourists from far and wide every 20 minutes. The visitors center provides guided tours of the passage and chambers but free time to explore the site and the carved kerbstones is limited. Click on the link below to see the magnificent artwork inside the passage and more views of the mound itself.
Click here to see more photos of this tomb.
Gaulstown Dolmen, Co. Waterford.
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One of the best of Waterfords many portal tombs, Gaulstown Dolmen is hidden away in a tree lined enclosure and its weathered and moss covered stones seem to suggest this tomb enjoys a quiet retirement with some structural renovations keeping things together.
Click here to see more photos of this tomb.
Haroldstown Dolmen, Co. Carlow.
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One of Irelands most appealing portal tombs, Haroldstown Dolmen apparently housed a family during the famine in the 1840's. Its solid and robust feel is enhanced by the collapsed rear capstone covering the rear of the chamber, and the remains of its cairn prop up the rear. Photos taken on a spectacular 15 minute sunset show on New Years Eve 2004.
Click here to see more photos of this tomb.
Ballykeel Dolmen, Co. Armagh
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An excellent example of a tripod portal tomb in the environs of Slieve Gullion, Co. Armagh. Ballykeel Dolmen has everything, magnificent views, an almost flat capstone resting on pinpoint portal stones and the large trail of cairn material stretching back for around 25 metres.
Click here to see more photos of this tomb.
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Co. Sligo
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Possibly the first megalithic structures in Ireland, a controversial age of around 7,000 years ago has been determined by scientists. The cemetery is huge and has many remains scattered around of what was once one of the largest collection of megaliths in Europe.
Click here to see more photos of this site.
Click here to continue on to page two of the tour or click '2' below...
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