Ballymacdermott Court Tomb and the cairn that encapsulates it couldn’t be placed in a more picturesque spot, standing on the side of a mountain overlooking the beautiful Meigh plain. The Cairn is believed to have been built around 3,500 BC and the court tomb that stands exposed is one of the finest examples I have seen. The court entrance to the tomb almost forms a complete circle, with the tallest stones standing at either end of its 7 metre diameter. The courtyard is 5 metres deep and leads into a three chambered gallery about 7 metres in length. It is believed a corbelled roof would once have helped support the structure within the cairn. The cairn itself is massive in size 28metres long and 9metres wide at its narrow end!
In 1816 locals opened the tomb and discovered an urn and what they believed to be human bones. Strangely enough to tomb was disturbed again and its lintel stone knocked down and pillars broken when an American Army tank on maneuvers during WW2 ran over part of the site! In 1962 an academic excavation took place and pieces of pottery and cremated bone were discovered.
Locally the site was also known as ‘The Fairy Ring’ and a description of an old story surrounding it was told by local Barney Murphy on the excellent ‘Voices from the Dawn’ website. He tells of a man “…coming home from the town very late at night, quite possibly revved up with drink in ’em, and he said he heard music. Heard the fairies – were playing music and dancing, in on the graves”. Ref: http://www.voicesfromthedawn.com/ballymacdermot-court-tomb/
The tomb is an unusual place, the tight forest of planted trees adjacent to the cairn is quite foreboding due to its darkness with little light penetrating the forest floor. The tomb itself feels inviting and I found myself sitting in it for quite some time looking across the plain towards Slieve Gullion.
GPS: 54.15409, -6.36958
Hey there. I would like to award you with 2 awards. They were given to me and I was asked to pay it forward and I thought of you. You are among a small few blogs that I have come upon that I can use as a resource when looking for material to cover. I love, love, love your blog, and I can’t wait to be in Ireland in October. Anyways, I hope you find the time to accept them xoxo http://thefairytaletraveler.com/2013/08/04/sunday-sharpener-15-sites-to-visit-to-sharpen-your-edge-awards/
I’m back again …. I love this post, and I would love to share it with your permission 🙂
No problem at all Christa, when are you in ireland btw, cause I could point out some points of interest near the city.
I fly into Dublin on the 2nd and I have a conference until the 5th, I am leaving for a few days to tour the UK then I’ll be back the 8th and 9th in Dublin. This is what I had in mind…
Trinity Book of Kells
Leprechaun Museum
St. Michan’s Mummies
The Hellfire Club tour
Glasnevin
I have time open I would love to hear your suggestions. I won’t have a car though.
Hi Christa,
Personally I’d scratch the Leprechaun museum from you list, the place is awful! But anyway the rest all sound like good ideas. If you dont ahve access to your car I’d be more than happy to bring you and whomever you have with you (well max 3 people for the car!) down to Glendalough via the Hellfire Club (its enroute) and maybe a stone circle near there?
REALLY!!?? I would simply adore you!!! Well I already adore you lol.
Send me your email and I will work out my itinerary!! Yay! thefairytaletraveler@gmail.com
Ha! Indeed. Sure I’m off work the 7th and the 8th and can surely have the 9th off too. So yeah can show you a decent place for a drink also, I’m good at selecting nice pubs in Dublin (not temple bar tourist crap!). email away at visionsofthepast23@gmail.com
I’m going to make myself available from 12:00 onward on the 8th. Very excited to see what we will be exploring!! Yay! Thank you so much!!
Cool. Shall be fun.
Oh and I emailed you 😉