Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb

Last updated

Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb
Native name
Irish: Tuama Dinge Pháirc Ráth Bhrannaibh
Dolmen and ruins of a farm, near Rathfran - geograph.org.uk - 297673.jpg
view of the tomb, standing in a field
Type wedge-shaped gallery grave
LocationRathfranpark, Killala,
County Mayo, Ireland
Coordinates 54°14′31″N9°15′09″W / 54.242008°N 9.252568°W / 54.242008; -9.252568
Elevation26 m (85 ft)
Builtc. 2500–2000 BC
Official nameRathfranpark Wedge Tomb
Reference no.633
Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb in Ireland

Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland. [1] [2]

Contents

Location

Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb is located 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Killala village, overlooking the Palmerstown River and Killala Bay.

History

This wedge tomb was built c. 2500–2000 BC, in the Copper or Bronze Age. [3] [4]

A stone circle once stood close to the tomb until the 1950s, when the stones were uprooted and dumped onto the wedge tomb. [5]

Description

The tomb has a gallery over 3 m (9.8 ft) long and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) wide, with side walls composed of boulders up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) high. The gallery axis is ENE-WSW, so the ENE end points towards the rising sun at the summer solstice. [6] [7] [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Mayo</span> County in Ireland

County Mayo is a county in Ireland. In the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority. The population was 137,231 at the 2022 census. The boundaries of the county, which was formed in 1585, reflect the Mac William Íochtar lordship at that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gallery grave</span> Form of megalithic tomb

A gallery grave is a form of megalithic tomb built primarily during the Neolithic Age in Europe in which the main gallery of the tomb is entered without first passing through an antechamber or hallway. There are at least four major types of gallery grave, and they may be covered with an earthen mound or rock mound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Patrick's Cathedral, Killala</span> Church in Co Mayo, Ireland

St Patrick's Cathedral, Killala is one of five cathedral churches in the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe of the Church of Ireland. It is situated on the Ballina to Ballycastle road in the small coastal village of Killala, County Mayo, Ireland. It is part of the ecclesiastical province of Dublin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moylisha Wedge Tomb</span> Wedge-shaped gallery grave in County Wicklow, Ireland

Moylisha Wedge Tomb, also called Labbanasighe, is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located in County Wicklow, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proleek Dolmen</span> Dolmen in County Louth, Ireland

Proleek Dolmen is a dolmen and National Monument located in County Louth, Ireland.

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

Cabragh Wedge Tomb, also called Cabragh I or the Giant's Grave, is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located in County Sligo, Ireland.

Altore Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and national monument located in County Roscommon, Ireland.

Rosdoagh Stone Circle is a court cairn and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.

Carbad More is a double court cairn and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.

Rathfran Stone Circle is a stone circle and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.

Doorus Demesne wedge tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rathfran Friary</span>

The Priory of the Holy Cross, also called Rathfran Friary or Rathfran Priory, is a former Dominican Friary and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.

Tullycommon Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located in The Burren region of County Clare, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altar Wedge Tomb</span> Wedge-shaped gallery grave in County Cork, Ireland

Altar Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and national monument located outside the village of Schull, in County Cork, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Island Wedge Tomb</span> Wedge-shaped gallery grave in County Cork, Ireland

Island Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located southeast of Mallow in County Cork, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Behy court tomb</span> Megalithic monument in Ireland

The court tomb of Behy is a megalithic monument in the townland of the same name, near Belderrig in the north of County Mayo, Ireland. The monument is located within the Céide Fields complex, 150 meters above sea level on the slope of Maumakeogh hill, and is the most westerly of the thirty or so tombs in the Killala group. The site commands wide views across the sea to the north and to the Stags of Broadhaven. The monument is located 500 meters west of the Céide Fields Visitor Centre and is on private property.

Carrowcastle Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.

Carrowcrom Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coom Wedge Tomb</span>

Coom Wedge Tomb is a prehistoric site, a wedge tomb on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. It is near the Skellig Ring, a route in the west of the peninsula.

References

  1. Weir, Anthony. "Rathfranpark".
  2. Borllase, William Copeland (1897). The Dolmens of Ireland: Volume I. London: Chapman & Hall. pp. 114–115.
  3. "Cabragh".
  4. "Cabragh Wedge Tomb, Sligo - TripAdvisor".
  5. "Saints and Stones: Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb".
  6. Map, The Megalithic Portal and Megalith. "Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb".
  7. "Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb".
  8. "megalithomania: Rathfranpark (Mayo) :: Wedge Tomb :: Visit notes".