Púicin An Chairn

This wedge-tomb is located near the E end of a long mountain ridge, overlooking Minard Bay on the S side of the Dingle peninsula. It commands an extensive outlook across Dingle Bay to the mountains of the Iveragh peninsula.

The monument, which stands at the junction of 3 stone fences, is in a good state of preservation but has been modified for use as an animal shelter. It consists of a wedge-shaped gallery incorporated in a mound of stones measuring 8m E-W and 5m N-S.

The mound reaches to the level of the roof of the gallery but it is not clear to what extent it represents the original cairn. A stone at the E edge of the mound and a 2nd stone immediately within the perimeter at NW are well set in the ground and may be kerb-stones.

The gallery, which at present measures 3.85m in length, decreases in height and width from W to E. It is 1.7m wide and 1.5m high at W and .9m wide and .75m high at E. The backstone is missing but has been replaced by a later stone wall. The entrance at W has also been closed by secondary walling.

The N side of the gallery is represented by 4 orthostats. A gap of .9m between the 2 westernmost stones now provides access to the interior but probably originally contained a 5th orthostat. A single stone outside the wall, towards its E end, forms a doubling of the wall here.

The S side of the gallery also consists of 4 orthostats. The structure is roofed by 2 slabs, that to W being supported partly by the side walls and partly by the E roof stone.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 34. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

See linked document with details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume IV. Counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1982)

Date of upload: 3 August 2013