This very ruined portal tomb is quite easy to find, but hard to see, as it is situated behind a wall next to the 2nd tee on a par 3 golf course. This is the best and easiest way to approach it.
Unfortunately, it lies forgotten in its misery surrounded by bracken and brambles, its presence unknown by those staning just 20m away hitting little white balls with metal sticks.
The capstone is huge and rivals that found at Browne's Hill and is now supported by just one of the portal stones, the other lying in the ground near by.
I originally refered to this place as Woodtown, but this site is referred to as "Mount Venus" in "The History and Antiquities of Tallaght In The County of Dublin" By William Domville Handcock (1899). I have since found out that this is its proper name.
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_Considering I drive past this so often it is surprising that this is only the second time that I have stopped off here. The bracken and brambles, although still very much present, have died back right now, allowing a better view of this spartan monument.
This trip also allowed me to take some pictures with me by it for scale - because it is so much bigger than it looks in the photos. The golf course has gone now - or for now - I am not sure what they are building on this land. It could be a big house or a new club house, only time will tell. Access to the tomb is still simple. The old golf club car park is still there and you can walk through a field to one side of the 'Paddock' gates.
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_All Sites Visited On 15th December 2002 « Previous Site Next Site »
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_Follow the R115 south from Rathfarnham until you reach Woodtown. Turn left onto the R113 and look out for a golf course on the right after about 400m. Park here. Walk to the second tee and look right and you will see a wall with a breach. The tomb is behind this wall.
A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments
 Birrinagh (Co. Longford) |  Mihanboy (Co. Roscommon) |  Glenroan (Co. Tyrone) |
 Crannagh (Co. Galway) |  Ballycasheen (Co. Clare) |  Annaghmore (Co. Leitrim) |
