Loughmacrory is a picturesque area of rolling hills just outside the ‘Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ in County Tyrone. This area is home to a huge density of megalithic monuments with court tombs, cairns and wedge tombs dotting the landscape. This wedge tomb is yet another that on certain ordnance maps is referred to Diarmuid and Grainne’s bed, a reference to part of the Fianna Cycle of Irish Mythology and the tale known as ‘the Pursuit’. As part of this tale Grainne, the daughter of the High King Cormac mac Airt, is due to marry the aging but still mighty warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill, but at their betrothal feast she becomes distressed that Fionn is older than her own father and falls for one of Fionn’s young warriors Diarmuid. The two young lovers flee and are pursued throughout the country, however with the number of ‘Diarmiud and Grainne’s beds’ that dot the country the pursuit would have lasted until both were well into old age!

Back to Loughmacrory wedge tomb, though this site is surrounded with overgrowth it does have a certain elegance and power to it. A mature thorn tree is growing out of the centre of the tomb which to some may be an annoyance but in my estimation just adds to its otherworldliness. The tomb is orientated south west and four large capstones and a portico. The portico has a dividing stone which seems to be a feature of other wedge tombs in this area. The structure is also surrounded on both of its sides with a double walling. The tomb contains two internal chambers that are still intact. Evidence of the cairn that would have enveloped the structure can be seen in subsidence surrounding the tomb, meaning the cairn would have measured 11 metres in length and narrowing in width from the front (6 metres) to its rear (3 metres). This area of Tyrone into Derry is a truly beautiful and in many ways lesser visited and untouched area of the country and as such is well worth a visit.

GPS: 54.64348, -7.09279