This small vaulted masonry building, tucked against the northeastern corner of a ruined church, was first identified as a possible dolmen by antiquarian William Copeland Borlase in 1897. Dolmens, those distinctive prehistoric monuments consisting of large flat stones balanced on upright supports, are typically found as standalone structures across the Irish landscape; making this particular example, if genuine, quite unusual in its church-adjacent position.

The structure’s ambiguous nature has kept it firmly in the “possible” category rather than being definitively classified as a megalithic tomb. Its construction appears to be a small chamber built with vaulted masonry, a technique that could date from various periods in Irish history. The adjoining ruined church provides an interesting context, as early Christian sites in Ireland often incorporated or were built near existing prehistoric monuments, creating a fascinating palimpsest of sacred spaces spanning millennia.

Today, the site remains catalogued in Ireland’s archaeological records, having been included in the Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland and documented in the Sites and Monuments Record. Whether it represents a genuine prehistoric dolmen that was later incorporated into church grounds, a medieval structure built to mimic ancient forms, or something else entirely, this mysterious little building continues to embody the layers of history that characterise so many Irish archaeological sites.