This is the site that Ballyvennaght townland is known for and what a beauty it is!
This place really is special and a real pig to find. No one is quite sure who found it, but it now stands in a hollow dug into the peat. It would appear that the capstone of the still-standing tomb must have protruded through the top of the peat.
Anyway. There are two portal tombs here set at opposite ends of a long cairn (now vanished). The larger of the two has collapsed flat - the capstone now sitting on the flattened structure that once supported it. Interestingly, this seems to have collapsed before the peat covered it over. Likewise, if a cairn ever existed over it, then it too had been robbed away before the peat developed. Because these two tombs are so sculptural I am tempted to think that the cairn never actually did cover them.
The still-standing one is a real cutie and although it is the smaller one it is still a fair size. A lovely half-height doorstone stands between the two well-matched portal stones and one of the side stones of the chamber is missing.
To reach it you need to enter Ballypatrick Forest Drive (£2.50) and park immediately. Walk along the road until you come to a gate, where you can see a concrete hut. Walk to this (across a ford) and then follow the fence up the hill to the right alongside the forestry plantation. When you reach the top jump the fence and turn right. Walk for about 300m to the right along the fence and then 100m towards that great big mountain across the bog. You will see the capstone poking out above the peat. Needless to say this is not the way I reached it (I never go the easy way!), but it was the way I came back.
If you are anywhere near this site then make the effort to find it. You'll not regret it!
Click Thumbnail to View Full Size Image
_
_
_
_
_
_All Sites Visited On 20th July 2003 « Previous Site Next Site »
The main reason for me being close to these portal tombs was because I wanted to visit the standing stone nearby. Obviously I couldn't resist the chance to see these again.
Click Thumbnail to View Full Size Image
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_All Sites Visited On 2nd March 2008 « Previous Site Next Site »
A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments
 Banshee Stone (Co. Carlow) |  Aghanlish (Co. Leitrim) |  Kilclooney More (Co. Donegal) |
 Tirnony (Co. Derry) |  Howth Castle (Co. Dublin) |  Rostellan (Co. Cork) |
