Megalithic Tombs / Tuamaí Meigiliotacha (Clocha Móra)

Magheraghanrush, Co. Sligo

Some court tombs have a central open court with burial chambers opening off the narrow ends as here at Deer Park or Magheraghanrush, Co. Sligo. The loose stones of the long cairn have been robbed in this case, leaving only the larger structural stones of the court and rectangular burial chambers

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Magheraghanrush, Co. Sligo
Courtesy of Con Brogan

Magheraghanrush, Co. Sligo

Some court tombs have a central open court with burial chambers opening off the narrow ends as here at Deer Park or Magheraghanrush, Co. Sligo. The loose stones of the long cairn have been robbed in this case, leaving only the larger structural stones of the court and rectangular burial chambers

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Enlarge image

The oldest archaeological monuments in Ireland are megalithic (large-stone) tombs, in which the remains of our remote ancestors were buried together with pottery and items of flint, stone and bone. There are four main classes of megalithic tombs but the oldest two, dating mainly from c. 4000 to 3000 BC, are the portal tombs and the court tombs. Portal tombs have been so named because two tall portal stones flanked the entrance to the chamber.
Court tombs derive their name from an open court in front of the tomb entrance. These tombs were normally covered by long cairns (mounds) of stone and are mostly confined to the northern half of the country.

Kilclooney More, Co. Donegal

Portal tombs, with their large capstones, can be very striking, like this example at Kilclooney More, Co. Donegal

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Kilclooney More, Co. Donegal
Courtesy of Con Brogan

Kilclooney More, Co. Donegal

Portal tombs, with their large capstones, can be very striking, like this example at Kilclooney More, Co. Donegal

Courtesy of Con Brogan

Enlarge image

Ás Gaeilge:

Is tuamaí meigiliotacha (clocha móra) iad na séadchomharthaí seandálaíochta is sine in Éirinn. Chuirtí iontu taisí ár sinsear i bhfad amach in éineacht le potaireacht agus rudaí déanta as cloch thine, cloch agus cnámha. Tá ceithre phríomhchineál tuamaí meigiliotacha ann ach is tuamaí ursanacha agus tuamaí cúirte iad an dá chineál is sine. Baineann siad go príomha leis an tréimhse c. 4000-3000 RC. Tuamaí ursanacha a thugtar orthu mar gheall ar an dá chloch arda ursanacha a bhíonn ar dhá thaobh an bhealaí isteach chun an tseomra.
Tá tuamaí cúirte ainmnithe as an gcúirt oscailte chun tosaigh ar bhealach isteach an tuama. De ghnáth bhíodh na tuamaí seo clúdaithe le cairn fhada de chlocha agus tá siad le fáil go mór mhór ó thuaidh.