archaeological ireland

Occupying a commanding hill-top overlooking islanded Lough Gill to the south and pretty Colgagh Lake to the west, this large and imposing monument is perhaps the best example of a centre court-tomb in the country. Its traditional name, by which it is still known hereabouts, is Leacht Con Mhic Ruis. The oval court, 50 feet in length with an entrance on the south side, has two segmented galleries at its east end and one at the west. In the last century all three galleries had large lintel stones...

The site consists of a huge mound of rough stones about 30.4m in diameter and about 7.6m high. Modern archaeologists reckon that it may well cover a prehistoric burial chamber. However according to legend, it was built to commemorate the first days of fighting of the legendary battle of Moytura between the Tuatha de Danann and the Fir Bolgs which began in the year 3303 B.C....