Proleek Portal Tomb

Proleek Dolmen consists of a large capstone of about 40 tonnes. It rests on two portals of over two metres in height and a backstone.  It dates to around 3000 BC. The site is south along the N1 from Moyry Castle and south of Ravensdale and about two miles north of Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland  (Irish: Dún Dealgan, Contae Lú, Éire). It is by the R173 in the grounds of the Ballymascanlan House Hotel. It is thought that the tomb could be aligned so that its portal points toward Slieve Gullion (Irish: Sliabh gCuillinn) so also facing the setting sun at the summer solstice. As with many such monuments local legends have grown over the centuries. In this case it is said that the dolmen was carried here by the Scottish giant Para Buidhe Mór Mhac Seoidin. He challenged Irish legendary figure Fionn mac Cumhaill to combat, but Fionn poisoned the nearby river and Para drank from it. The Scottish giant was then buried at the wedge tomb nearby.

Image: Proleek Dolmen, by Robert O’Callaghan Newenham, Picturesque Views of the Antiquities of Ireland, 1830.