Burren Wedge Tombs

The Burren is an area in the Northern half of County Clare, the name translates as 'Rocky Place' which is very accurate as the region is covered with limestone. The image on the left shows the limestone covering the hills.

The Burren is one of the richest areas in Ireland for wedge tombs and stone forts. There are around 70 megalithic tombs and almost 500 forts in the region, the wedge tomb is the most common type of megalith and I am showing several examples on this page.

Situated not far from the road and indeed sign-posted is a fine example at Creevagh R273 957.

At Parknabinnia there around 10 tombs scattered around a square kilometre, the fine example pictured below R265 937 is clearly visible from the road.

Ballyganner has a number of wedge tombs situated both in the northern and southern regions, the tomb pictured below in Ballyganner South R220 944 has a badly damaged roofstone.

At Gleninsheen there are a number of Cairns and 3 wedge tombs the finest pictured below left R230 022 is on private land. Two miles North of here is the state owned Dolmen of Poulnabrone.

Other Monuments of interest in the Burren area include the Stone forts at Cahermore, Caherdooneerish pictured below, Cahermacnaghten, Caherconnell and Ballykinvarga. The Cliff fort at Cahercommaun, the Cairns at Poulawack, Ballyganner and Gleninsheen, and the wedge tombs at Baur.

There are many more wedge tombs around the Burren including those at Cappaghkennedy,Poulaphuca, Lissylisheen and believed to be the finest example at Derrynavahagh.

Situated in the Burren Region Of North Clare.

Google Map

Discovery Map 51:

Click on Pics for higher resolution image. Photos: Jim Dempsey.