05 . Lisnadarragh Wedge Tomb

Monaghan

One of the best megalithic sites in the region, Lisnadarragh Wedge Tomb, looks like the ribcage of a huge stone giant. A narrow, roofless gallery survives and is made up of more than 20 large stones which average 1.8m in height.

These stones decrease in height from southwest to northeast. Wedge tombs are the most numerous megalithic tomb type and are so called because they look like huge stone wedges - consisting of a roofed chamber which usually decreased in height and width from front to back. They are found in huge numbers in Co. Clare, Co. Cork and Co. Kerry (where other megalithic tomb types are rare) with a scattering across Ulster. Although the building of wedge tombs evolved in the Late Neolithic, they mostly date from the Early Bronze Age. The cairns (great mounds of earth and stones) which covered these tombs were round, oval or D-shaped

 

06 . Proleek Wedge Tomb

Louth

Proleek Wedge Tomb is situated on the grounds of Ballymascanlon House, 80m from Proleek Dolmen (see p.12). It consists of a gallery enclosed by eight large stones and a single roof stone is still in position in the east end of the gallery.

There are more than 500 surviving wedge tombs in Ireland. Archaeologists often find Beaker pottery, as well as barbed and tanged arrowheads, in these tombs which indicate that they were built in the centuries around 2500 BC. This means that they were the last type of megalithic tomb built in Ireland. After this time, smaller individual burials became common and the era of the great tomb passed.

According to local legend the Scottish giant - Parrah Boug McShagean - who built the Portal Tomb (Dolmen) nearby is buried here.

 

 

 

 

 

07 . Navan Centre & Fort

Armagh

Navan Fort is the most venerable prehistoric site in Ulster. It consists of a large circular enclosure located on the summit of a low but commanding Drumlin. The enclosure measures 250m in diameter and is surrounded by a large bank and ditch. Unusually, the ditch is built inside the bank, which would suggest that it was a ritual site and not made for defensive purposes.

Navan Fort has been identified as Emain Macha, the royal seat of the Kings of Ulster and the province’s ancient capital in the Iron Age. Emain Macha (meaning the ‘Twins of the Princess Macha’) is associated with Conchobar Mac Nessa and the Red Branch Knights and it was here Cúchulainn – the great hero of Irish legend – spent much of this youth before being killed defending Ulster against the forces of Queen Maeve of Connacht. However, Navan Fort had humble beginnings; long before its prominence as a royal site, a small Early Bronze Age farmstead was located on the hilltop. The site was rebuilt several times over the following centuries.

The excellent Navan Centre brings this important and ancient site to life. Haughey’s Fort and the King’s Stables are also close by.

 

08 . Cúchulainn's Stone

Louth

Clochafarmore standing stone is an impressive monument standing at over 3m high and 1.3m wide. It is believed that standing stones may mark locations where great events took place and this stone is traditionally associated with the greatest hero of Irish folklore - Cúchulainn. He is the principal character of the epic Irish saga the Táin Bó Cuailgne (The Cattle Raid of Cooley). In this tale Cúchulainn defends Ulster from the forces of Queen Maeve of Connacht. According to legend Cúchulainn, who was fatally wounded, tied himself to this standing stone so that he could stay upright and face the opposing army. Even after his death, Cúchulainn's enemies would not approach the stone for fear he was still alive. It was not until Morrigan (the Celtic goddess of War and Death) appeared in the form of a raven and landed on his shoulder that they were sure he was dead. A bronze statue of this scene by Oliver Sheppard stands in the General Post Office on O'Connell Street, Dublin. This monument is Bronze Age and pre-dates the Iron Age legend of Cúchulainn by many centuries and represents an attempt to interpret an existing, ancient landscape. The name Clochafarmore comes from the Irish Cloch an Fhir Mhóir meaning 'Stone of the Big Man'. The field where it is located is locally called 'The Field of Slaughter'.