Megalithic tomb - court tomb, Roosky Upper, Co. Donegal
Situated on gentle pasture land in Roosky Upper, roughly 3.8 kilometres south of Convoy village, this remarkable dual-court tomb represents one of Ireland's more complex megalithic monuments.
Megalithic tomb - court tomb, Roosky Upper, Co. Donegal
The tomb sits strategically between the River Deele to the north and the River Finn to the south, commanding extensive views across the Donegal landscape in most directions, save for a gentle rise that blocks the western vista. What makes this site particularly fascinating is its unusual design; two separate court tombs built back to back, aligned almost north to south, creating a monument that stretches an impressive 54 metres in length.
The northern section of the tomb is the better preserved of the two, featuring a large full court accessed through an entrance passage flanked by facade stones. This court, roughly rectangular in shape, measures 9 metres long and narrows from 7 metres at its entrance to about 5 metres where it meets the gallery. The gallery itself extends 10.5 metres and reaches up to 3.5 metres in width, with traces of what might have been internal divisions still visible. Eight courtstones can be identified along the eastern side, whilst five mark the western perimeter, though a modern field wall now meanders through the entire structure, incorporating some original stones whilst obscuring others. Some of the courtstones still stand over a metre high, and corbel stones remain in place, hinting at the monument’s original roofed construction.
The southern element tells a different story of time and decay, though its basic outline remains discernible. A smaller court leads to a 9 metre long gallery, accessed through what appears to be the remnants of an entrance passage similar to its northern counterpart. Kerbstones marking the monument’s original perimeter can still be traced along both sides, set about 3.5 metres beyond the gallery walls and spanning 11 to 12 metres apart. A substantial grass-covered mound extends along the eastern side, possibly containing material cleared from surrounding fields over the centuries, adding another layer to this ancient site’s long history. Despite the encroachment of the modern field wall and centuries of weathering, the monument remains an impressive testament to the engineering skills and ritual practices of Ireland’s Neolithic communities.





