Why did I even think it was a good idea to stop here at the end of a very long day and in the dark too!? I missed this tomb out on my first trip down to Waterford and could not see myself returning for a while.
So, I arrive here in the near dark and set off up the track to the little enclosure that surrounds the tomb. This is very overgrown and over shadowed by trees, making it very interesting at night.
The tomb, however, is relatively clear of weeds and such like and easy to view. The massive capstone rests on the portals (2.4m high) and the chamber walls. There is no door stone in place.
I will definitely have to come back when it's light because it is a very nice example of its genre.
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_I had to stop by again - last time I was here it was dark, so I wanted some better pictures.
The visit in the dark at least hid the incredible amount of concrete holding this beauty up. It's good that it has some support, but it could have been done a little more tastefully.
Sitting in front of the tomb with the 4m long capstone looming some 3.5m over you is quite an experience. The smallness of the glade that the tomb now stands in adds to the effect.
I was particularly taken by the backstone. This has a shoulder on both edges. One of these looks like a break in a fault in the rock and the other may have been created to balance it out. Just looking at this tomb you know that the builders had an eye for design.
The tomb faces east, away from the Monavullagh Mountains, which dominate the western horizon from the nearby track.
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_All Sites Visited On 15th June 2003 « Previous Site Next Site »
It's interesting to note that this site and Roscrea (County Tipperary) actually point at each other! There is a large hill bbetween the two sites, so there's no line of sight, but the alignment is unique amongst portal tombs.
I didn't know about this before, but the large, flat slab that can be seen just inside the gate is actually the capstone of a kist. If the tomb ever had a cairn then this would have probably been inset into it.
It was also very good to find that the enclosure had recently been attended to and the grass and bracken had been cut. It's great to be able to see the tomb properly. If you're in the area any time soon take advantage of it and stop by.
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_All Sites Visited On 16th July 2006 « Previous Site Next Site »
As we left Knockeen (County Waterford) the weather was still scorching hot, but the sun had disappeared behind some cloud. I had hoped that it would stay there while we were at Gaulstown so that the light wouldn't be so harsh. The overhanging trees make it very difficult to get a good picture in bright sunlight, because the contrast is too great.
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_All Sites Visited On 5th August 2006 « Previous Site Next Site »
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_A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments
 The Labby Rock (Co. Sligo) |  Altdrumman (Co. Tyrone) |  Annadorn (Co. Down) |
 Rathkenny (Co. Meath) |  Monascrebe (Co. Louth) |  Cloghroe (Co. Donegal) |
