Corracloona Court Tomb

Corracloona Court Tomb, commonly called Prince Connell's Grave, is a chamber tomb and National Monument located in the north of County Leitrim in the West of Ireland.[1]

Corracloona Court Tomb
Native name
Irish: Tuama Cúirte Currach Chluana
Prince Connell's Grave
Typecourt cairn?
LocationCorracloona, Kiltyclogher,
County Leitrim, Republic of Ireland
Coordinates54.334821°N 8.004539°W / 54.334821; -8.004539
Elevation112 m (367 ft)
Height1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
Builtc. 2000–1500 BC
Official nameCorracloona Court Tomb
Reference no.405
Location of Corracloona Court Tomb in Ireland

Location
Directional sign

Corracloona Court Tomb is located on a slope overlooking the northern tip of Lough MacNean, 3.3 km (2 miles) southeast of Kiltyclogher.[2]

History

Corracloona Court Tomb was built c. 2000–1500 BC, in the early Bronze Age.

It is locally known as Prince Connell's Grave (Irish: Feart Chonaill Flaith). There are several nobles of this name in Irish legend; the most likely candidate is Conall Gulban, 5th-century founder of the Cenél Conaill. However, another legend places Conall Gulban's grave at the dolmen at Fenagh. In any case, both Corracloona and Fenagh monuments are thousands of years older than Conall Gulban.

It was first excavated in 1953.[2]

Description

Prince Connell's Grave is usually described as a court tomb (court cairn), although some see it as a dolmen (portal tomb) or Wedge-shaped gallery grave (wedge tomb). It has a small forecourt (1.5 m wide) and only one burial chamber (2 × 3.5 m), with a large slab separating the two. This slab has a large hole in the bottom, called a "kennel-hole"; this is similar to some tombs in southern France, and may have been used to add additional burials, speak to the dead or leave offerings. However, the hole could be an accidental break.[3][4][5][6]

References
  1. "Corracloona Megalithic Tomb, Leitrim - TripAdvisor".
  2. "Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society". The Society. 1 January 1977 – via Google Books.
  3. (Ireland), Ordnance Survey; Valera, Ruaidhrí De; Nualláin, Seán Ó (1 January 1972). "Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland: Counties: Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, Laoighis, Offaly, Kildare, Cavan". Stationery Office – via Google Books.
  4. "Corracloona".
  5. "Corracloona Megalithic Tomb / Prince Connell's Grave".
  6. 2010, PIP. "CORRACLOONA COURT TOMB/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND.COM".CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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