POULNABRONE DOLMEN
Poll na mBrón (hole of sorrows)
near Faherlaghroe, County Clare

The Poulnabrone Dolmen dates back to sometime between 4200-2500 BC. It's a great example of a megalithic Neolithic portal tomb, one of the four types of megalithic graves in Ireland. It is one of only four known in Clare, one of only two in the Burren, and the best preserved in all of Ireland.

In 1985, a crack was discovered in the eastern portal stone which ultimately collapsed the dolmen. By 1986, a team of archaeologists began excavations of the dolmen, which included the replacement of the cracked stone and the capstone being lifted back onto the portal .

adult remains were quite young, but that one had survived to age 30 and one to around age 40.

Also included in the finds were a polished stone axe and weapons, pottery, a bone pendant and quartz crystals.

It was also discovered that around 1700BC a baby had been buried in the portico, just outside the entrance to the tomb. It's assumed that due to the dominating presence on the landscape that the tomb must have remained popular for ceremony and ritual through the Celtic period.

This tomb is located north of Leamaneh Castle on the R480.

~ Free car parking available
~ Uneven surface on limestone surfaces, not suitable for chairs, walkers use caution