Kilmogue Portal Tomb

Kilmogue Portal Tomb
Native name Irish: Leac an Scail Cill Mhóg
Kilmogue Dolmen Harristown Dolmen Cromlech of Kilmogue[1]
Type	dolmen
Location	Kilmogue/Harristown, Mullinavat, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Coordinates	52°24′11″N 7°15′44″W / 52.403143°N 7.262261°W / 52.403143; -7.262261
Area	Nore Valley
Elevation	165 m (541 ft)
Height	4 m (13 ft)
Built	c. 4000–3000 BC
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Kilmogue (Leacán Scoil)
Reference no.	324
Location of Kilmogue Portal Tomb in Ireland

Kilmogue Portal Tomb, also called Leac an Scail, is a

Kilmogue Portal Tomb stands on the eastern slopes of Brown Mountain, 7.2 km (4.5 mi) northeast of Mullinavat.^[4]

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,^[5] 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.^[6][7][8]

References