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Kilmogue Portal Tomb

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Dolmen in County Kilkenny, Ireland
Kilmogue Portal Tomb
Native name
Leac an Scail
Cill Mhóg (Irish)
Kilmogue Dolmen
Harristown Dolmen
Cromlech of Kilmogue
Typedolmen
LocationKilmogue/Harristown, Mullinavat,
County Kilkenny, Ireland
Coordinates52°24′11″N 7°15′44″W / 52.403143°N 7.262261°W / 52.403143; -7.262261
AreaNore Valley
Elevation165 m (541 ft)
Height4 m (13 ft)
Builtc. 4000–3000 BC
National monument of Ireland
Official nameKilmogue (Leacán Scoil)
Reference no.324
Kilmogue Portal Tomb is located in IrelandKilmogue Portal TombLocation of Kilmogue Portal Tomb in Ireland

Kilmogue Portal Tomb, also called Leac an Scail, is a dolmen (portal tomb) and National Monument located in County Kilkenny, Ireland.

Location

Kilmogue Portal Tomb stands on the eastern slopes of Brown Mountain, 7.2 km (4.5 mi) northeast of Mullinavat.

History

Most 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

The dolmen is constructed of granite with quartz veins, 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.

References

  1. (M.A), John Cooke (1 January 1912). "Handbook for Travellers in Ireland". Edward Stanford.
  2. "megalithomania: Leac na Scail (Kilkenny) :: Portal Tomb :: Visit notes". www.megalithomania.com.
  3. "5000 year old tombs, Writers Block & Graveyards of Inspiration • Irish history podcast". 21 June 2021.
  4. "Kilmogue Portal Tomb". atlasobscura.com. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  5. "Leac An Scailc - Ireland's tallest dolmen".
  6. "Kilmogue Dolmen".
  7. Pip. "KILMOGUE PORTAL TOMB-LEAC NA SCAIL/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND".
  8. "Ireland 5. Kilmogue Prehistoric Portal Tomb Dolmen (Leac An Scail Dolmain), Rising Sun pub in Mullinavat, County Kilkenny".
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