A portal tomb legendary for its spectacular form which shifts from every angle.
Kilclooney More Dolmen, Co. Donegal
On a fine summer evening I finally made it to one of the finest portal tombs on these islands. The perfection of the monuments matched the sunset sky and I could have stayed here for hours on end. There are actually two portal tombs but the smaller one normally gets a token mention for the honour of sharing a cairn with the larger, more imposing monument.
Kilclooney More Dolmen has pride of place in these parts and has a visitors centre semi-dedicated to these two tombs. Even though I arrived quite late there were people still arriving to view the tombs and play fetch with the black dog that seems to appear from no-where.
On a fine summer evening I finally made it to one of the finest portal tombs on these islands. The perfection of the monuments matched the sunset sky and I could have stayed here for hours on end. There are actually two portal tombs but the smaller one normally gets a token mention for the honour of sharing a cairn with the larger, more imposing monument.
Kilclooney More Dolmen has pride of place in these parts and has a visitors centre semi-dedicated to these two tombs. Even though I arrived quite late there were people still arriving to view the tombs and play fetch with the black dog that seems to appear from no-where.
Kilclooney More Dolmen, Co. Donegal
Compare this angle form the one above, as you can see the tomb morphs seamlessly into many shapes as you walk around it, from this angle it is very graceful and bird-like.
Compare this angle form the one above, as you can see the tomb morphs seamlessly into many shapes as you walk around it, from this angle it is very graceful and bird-like.
Kilclooney More Dolmen, Co. Donegal
The last few minutes before the sun sets, taken from some distance away with a long lens, the tomb now appears like a squat and overweight dinosaur.
The last few minutes before the sun sets, taken from some distance away with a long lens, the tomb now appears like a squat and overweight dinosaur.
Kilclooney More Dolmen, Co. Donegal
This is the smaller tomb, its capstone and sidestones pushed aside. Note the unsual lintel stone that sits on top of the portal stones and would have supported the capstone. The larger tomb also features a chock stone so that the angle of the capstone could be set just right, obviously a significant feature to the builders.
This is the smaller tomb, its capstone and sidestones pushed aside. Note the unsual lintel stone that sits on top of the portal stones and would have supported the capstone. The larger tomb also features a chock stone so that the angle of the capstone could be set just right, obviously a significant feature to the builders.
Kilclooney More Dolmen, Co. Donegal
Taken a few minutes after sunrise from the western side of the tomb, again we see the illusion of the capstone being much more overweight than it actually is.
Taken a few minutes after sunrise from the western side of the tomb, again we see the illusion of the capstone being much more overweight than it actually is.
Kilclooney More Dolmen, Co. Donegal
Taken from behind the smaller tomb, looking over towards the back of the larger tomb.
Taken from behind the smaller tomb, looking over towards the back of the larger tomb.
Kilclooney More Dolmen, Co. Donegal
The sun breaks the clouds on a fine summer morning.
The sun breaks the clouds on a fine summer morning.
Kilclooney More Dolmen, Co. Donegal
The tombs occupy a prominent place on raised ground, seen here from afar.
The tombs occupy a prominent place on raised ground, seen here from afar.
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