Columkille West

Dolmen at Aughnacliffe

Photograph of a Dolmen at Aughnacliffe scanned from "Teathbha" Vol. 1. No. 1

Dolmen at Aughnacliffe

Dolmen at Aughnacliffe

Photograph of a Dolmen at Aughnacliffe scanned from "Teathbha" Vol. 1. No. 1

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Two impressive megalithic tombs or dolmens can be found in Columkille West in Co. Longford. Dolmens were erected by the earliest inhabitants of Ireland who settled here between 4000 and 3000 B.C. and continued to inhabit the land up to 2000 B.C.
 

The larger of the two dolmens situated in Aughnacliffe (Achadh na Cloiche, the field of stone) consists of a transverse block about twelve feet long by seven feet wide and five feet six in height resting on two supports which are about seven feet in height.
 

The smaller dolmen in Cleenrath consists of five upright stones, each five and a half feet by three feet wide, supporting a large transverse stone which is six feet long by four and a half wide.