Megalithic tomb, Carrowmullin, Co. Donegal
Hidden in the sloping pastures near Fahan village, about 50 metres from the eastern shore of Lough Swilly, stands an enigmatic megalithic monument that doesn't appear on any 6-inch Ordnance Survey maps.
Megalithic tomb, Carrowmullin, Co. Donegal
The ancient structure consists of four stone slabs rising from a grass-covered mound that stretches 12.3 metres long and 6.8 metres at its widest point. Three of these stones form a line along the northern edge, oriented northeast to southwest, whilst a solitary fourth stone stands to the south. The heights vary considerably; the eastern stone barely breaks 25 centimetres above ground, whilst the western stone reaches 70 centimetres, suggesting the original gallery structure may have been deliberately graded in height.
Archaeological surveys suggest these weathered orthostats could be the remnants of a megalithic gallery tomb, possibly measuring at least 4 metres long and 1.3 metres wide. Without excavation, it’s difficult to determine exactly how these stones relate to the original ground level or the full extent of the monument beneath the mound. The site’s outlook is naturally limited by sharply rising ground to the east of Fahan, creating an intimate setting focused towards the lough.
What makes this site particularly intriguing is its later religious significance. During the 19th century, local tradition associated the monument with St Mura, and it served as a penitential station where an annual turas, or pattern, was performed. This continued ritual use may explain the unusually neat outline of the mound, which could have been shaped and maintained by generations of pilgrims. The presence of trees growing close to the stones, including one just 20 centimetres from the southern orthostat, adds to the site’s wild, forgotten atmosphere, making it a compelling example of how prehistoric monuments were absorbed into later Christian traditions in rural Ireland.





