Kilmogue Portal Tomb, also called Leac an Scail, is a dolmen (portal tomb) and National Monument located in County Kilkenny, Ireland.[2][3]
| Kilmogue Portal Tomb | |
|---|---|
| Native name Leac an Scail Cill Mhóg (Irish) | |
| Kilmogue Dolmen Harristown Dolmen Cromlech of Kilmogue[1] | |
 | |
| Type | dolmen |
| Location | Kilmogue/Harristown, Mullinavat, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°24′11″N 7°15′44″W / 52.403143°N 7.262261°W |
| Area | Nore Valley |
| Elevation | 165 m (541 ft) |
| Height | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Built | c. 4000–3000 BC |
| Official name | Kilmogue (Leacán Scoil) |
| Reference no. | 324 |
  Location of Kilmogue Portal Tomb in Ireland | |
Location
editKilmogue Portal Tomb stands on the eastern slopes of Brown Mountain, 7.2 km (4.5 mi) northeast of Mullinavat.[4]
History
editMost dolmens were built c. 3000 BC, i.e. in the Neolithic. They may not have been graves; their exact purpose is unknown.
The name "Kilmogue" derives its name from the Irish Cill Mhóg, "Mog's church", referring to the Celtic deity Mogons, a god associated with mountains and whose name is cognate with "might." However, dolmens were built long before Celtic culture reached Ireland (800–400 BC); this could indicate that the Celtic settlers adopted the ancient monument for their own god.
Another name is Leac an Scail, "the hero's stone." Scal literally means "burst", and scal ghréine (sunburst) is used to refer to the mythological warriors the Fianna. This could also be Leac an Scáil, "the phantom's stone".
Description
editThe dolmen is constructed of granite with quartz veins,[5] using a large capstone resting on two large portal stones and a pillow stone resting on a backstone. The entrance faces northeast, i.e. towards the summer solstice sunrise, and has a door-stone.[6][7][8]
References
edit- ^ (M.A), John Cooke (1 January 1912). "Handbook for Travellers in Ireland". Edward Stanford.
- ^ "megalithomania: Leac na Scail (Kilkenny) :: Portal Tomb :: Visit notes". www.megalithomania.com.
- ^ "5000 year old tombs, Writers Block & Graveyards of Inspiration • Irish history podcast". 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Kilmogue Portal Tomb". atlasobscura.com. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Leac An Scailc - Ireland's tallest dolmen".
- ^ "Kilmogue Dolmen".
- ^ Pip. "KILMOGUE PORTAL TOMB-LEAC NA SCAIL/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND".
- ^ "Ireland 5. Kilmogue Prehistoric Portal Tomb Dolmen (Leac An Scail Dolmain), Rising Sun pub in Mullinavat, County Kilkenny".