Megalithic tomb, Legaltan, Co. Donegal
Near the northern shore of Legaltan Lough, about 1.5 kilometres north of Ballyshannon, sits the remains of what appears to be an ancient megalithic chamber.
Megalithic tomb, Legaltan, Co. Donegal
The monument occupies a rather modest spot in the landscape, with limited views thanks to a gentle rise to the north, a low ridge beyond the lake to the south, and a small drumlin-like hill to the east. When the lake levels rise, the site is prone to flooding, which adds to the challenges of studying this already fragmented structure.
The monument has suffered considerable collapse over the millennia, leaving only two stones in their original positions. These survivors include a southern stone with a distinctive gabled outline that leans slightly northeast, standing just over half a metre high, and a northern stone set almost perpendicular to it, which tilts considerably southward and would reach about two metres in height if straightened. Around these anchoring stones lie several displaced slabs of impressive dimensions; the largest measures 2.4 by 2 metres and up to 45 centimetres thick. The entire assemblage rests within a low mound of small stones, possibly accumulated through centuries of field clearance, measuring roughly 5 by 4.5 metres.
Archaeological analysis suggests this was likely a portal tomb chamber with its entrance facing northeast. The southern set stone would have served as the backstone, whilst the other upright stone formed one side of the portal entrance, with a now prostrate slab at the eastern edge possibly being its matching partner. The considerable height difference between the proposed backstone and portal stones suggests the builders may have employed a subsidiary roofstone alongside the main capstone; a practical solution to the engineering challenge. However, the monument’s deteriorated state makes definitive classification difficult without further investigation, and archaeologists have prudently left it unclassified pending more detailed study.





