Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb, Meencargagh (Dooish Ed), Co. Donegal

Megalithic tomb – wedge tomb, Meencargagh (Dooish Ed), Co. Donegal

Hidden within a mature coniferous forest some 6km southwest of Ballybofey lies a megalithic tomb that remained unrecorded on any Ordnance Survey map until its discovery in 1989.

Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb, Meencargagh (Dooish Ed), Co. Donegal

The monument sits on a rock-strewn, boggy hillside facing south, where decades-old plantations had concealed it from view. When forestry workers planted the surrounding trees over 30 years ago, they inadvertently damaged parts of the structure, though its main features remain discernible. Following its recognition, the immediate area was cleared of trees, creating a small clearing where visitors can now examine this ancient burial site.

The tomb consists of a stone gallery aligned almost west to east, stretching at least 3.5 metres in length and divided by a septal stone into two distinct sections: a portico at the entrance and a main chamber beyond. Archaeological examination reveals fascinating construction details; the portico measures approximately one metre long, whilst the main chamber extends eastward, though its full extent remains uncertain as further structures may lie buried. Various displaced stones scattered about the site hint at its original grandeur, including what appears to be a fallen roofstone measuring 1.6 metres across and several sidestones that once formed the gallery walls. The northern side of the main chamber has either collapsed or remains concealed beneath the boggy ground, whilst the southern side preserves four sidestones of varying heights, the tallest standing just half a metre high.



There’s an intriguing historical connection that adds mystery to this site. In 1846, antiquarian Thomas Fagan documented visiting a ‘pagan sepulture’ known as ‘Labbagrania’ in this same townland, though whether his account refers to this particular monument remains unclear. The tomb’s construction style, with its distinctive gallery and septal stone arrangement, suggests it belongs to the wedge tomb tradition, a type of megalithic monument particularly common in Ireland during the Bronze Age. Despite the damage from forestry work and a drainage hole dug through its western section, the tomb at Meencargagh stands as a remarkable survivor, offering a tangible connection to the prehistoric communities who once inhabited these Donegal hills.

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Meencargagh (Dooish Ed), Co. Donegal
54.77988727, -7.87238153
54.77988727,-7.87238153
Meencargagh (Dooish Ed) 
Megalithic Tombs 

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