Megalithic tomb, Kilmonaster Middle, Co. Donegal

Co. Donegal |

Megalithic Tombs

Megalithic tomb, Kilmonaster Middle, Co. Donegal

In the townland of Kilmonaster Middle in County Donegal, there once stood a mysterious megalithic structure that has left archaeologists puzzled about its true nature.

First recorded on the 1845-7 revision of the Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, this monument was located about 50 metres southwest of another ancient site in the area. By the time anyone thought to properly investigate it, however, the structure had already vanished; according to local records, it was completely removed around 1870.

What we know about this lost monument comes primarily from Thomas Fagan, who documented it in the 1840s and identified it as a 'Giant's Grave'. His description paints a picture of an intriguing structure: large stone flags, standing between 30 and 60 centimetres high, enclosed an area measuring roughly 7.3 metres by 4.25 metres. Within this boundary lay a substantial flat stone, approximately 1.8 metres square and up to 45 centimetres thick, with one end raised about 60 centimetres off the ground. Whilst Fagan's account suggests this was some form of megalithic structure, its exact purpose and classification remain unclear to this day.

The monument's destruction means we'll never know whether it was truly a burial site, as the 'Giant's Grave' name suggests, or served some other ceremonial or practical purpose for our ancestors. Its removal in 1870, likely for agricultural improvements or building materials, represents a common fate for many of Ireland's prehistoric monuments during the 19th century. Today, only the historical records and archaeological surveys remind us of what once stood in this quiet corner of Donegal, adding another layer of mystery to Ireland's already rich tapestry of ancient sites.

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