Carricknagat Megalithic Tombs

Tombs in County Sligo, Ireland

Carricknagat

Native name
Tuamaí Meigiliteach Charraig na gCat (Irish)
Dermot & Grania's Bed and Giant's Grave

Location of Carricknagat in Ireland

Type| wedge-shaped gallery grave and dolmen
Location| Carricknagat, Ballygawley,
County Sligo, Ireland
Coordinates| 54°20′05″N 8°00′16″W﻿ / ﻿54.334821°N 8.004539°W﻿ / 54.334821; -8.004539
Elevation| 63 m (207 ft)
Built| c. 4000–2500 BC

National monument of Ireland

Official name| Carricknagat
Reference no.| 277.01

Carricknagat Megalithic Tombs are megalithic tombs and a National Monument located in County Sligo, Ireland.[1]

## Location

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Carricknagat is located halfway between Ballygawley and Ballintogher, near a source of the Ballisodare River.[2]

## History

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Carricknagat tombs were built c. 4000–2500 BC, in the Neolithic.

The name means "the cats' stone" or "the pine martens' stone;" ancient monuments are often said to be haunted by wild animals, possibly representing the spirits of the dead.[3]

## Description

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### West tomb

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The tomb to the west, a wedge-shaped gallery grave (wedge tomb) called the Giant's Grave, is trapezoidal in plan with the inner end of a SSE-facing gallery (4 × 2.6 m) and is divided by jambs inset in the gallery walls, with a rear chamber 2 m (7 ft) long. The outer chamber is composed of side-stones, an upright stone and four three kerb-stones.[4]

### East tomb

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This tomb, a dolmen, is traditionally called Dermot & Grania's Bed.[5]

## References

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1. ^ Killanin, Baron Michael Morris; Duignan, Michael V. (1 January 1989). The Shell guide to Ireland. Gill and Macmillan. ISBN 9780717115952 – via Google Books.
2. ^ Kearins, Nora. "Townlands". Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
3. ^ Weir, Anthony (1 January 1980). Early Ireland: a field guide. Blackstaff Press. ISBN 9780856402128 – via Google Books.
4. ^ "Recorded Monuments protected under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act, 1994 - County Sligo" (PDF). National Monuments Service. 1995.
5. ^ PIP. "CARRIGNAGAT COURT TOMB/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND.COM".