This is one of those, "Why haven't I heard of this site before?" sites. It was moved from the slopes of Slieve Rusheen to its present location in 1992 to save it from quarrying. Excavation revealed three small cists set into the edge of the round cairn and these can be seen at the restored site.
The 5m long gallery is made of shale-like stone that has deteriorated greatly - it was not damaged in transit, but was like that before it was moved. The west-facing entrance is flanked by two large entrance stones with another stone set between them forming a split entrance. One slim roof stone rests on the top of the walls. The walls are supported by buttress stones that are set at right angles to them.
What I want to know is why doesn't the hotel's website mention that they have this wonderful thing in their grounds?
This is always a weird one to visit. Driving past all the big expensive cars in the hotel car park and then walking into the well-manicured garden to visit the monument is strange. The backdrop of hotel and golf course just adds to the strangeness.
However, the in-a-smart-garden location does add the benefit that the site is maintained pretty well. I say 'pretty well', because today the weeds in the gallery are quite high, so nothing's been done to it for a while. I hope it doesn't go the same way as Baurnadomeeny (County Tipperary) and get left to nature. Somehow I doubt that the hotel will let part of its garden go that way. The information sign could do with replacing or repainting, though.
A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments
Munmahoge (Co. Waterford) | Castlehill 1 (Co. Mayo) | Ballynahown (Co. Clare) |
Bohateh North (Co. Clare) | Wardhouse (Co. Leitrim) | Ballynahown (Co. Clare) |