Legananny Dolmen

Coordinates: 54°19′23″N 6°01′12″W / 54.323°N 6.020°W

Legannany Dolmen, June 2010

Legananny Dolmen is a megalithic dolmen or cromlech nine miles southeast of Banbridge and three miles north of Castlewellan, both in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the slopes of Slieve Croob near the village of Leitrim,[1] in Drumgooland parish, nestled between the farmer's stone wall and a back road. It is a State Care Historic Monument sited in the townland of Legananny, in Banbridge District, at grid ref: J2887 4339.[2]

This tripod dolmen has a capstone over 3m long and 1.8m from the ground.[3] It dates to the Neolithic period, making the monument approximately 5,000 years old. Such portal tombs were funerary sites for the disposal of the dead in Neolithic society. The heavy stones would have been dragged some distance before being set in place. The three supporting stones are unusually long and there are slight traces of a cairn which must have been far more extensive. Some urns were found underneath.[4]

The name Legananny is believed(by_whom?) to be derived from Irish Liagán Áine, meaning "Áine's standing stone" – Áine being an Irish goddess.

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References

  1. ↑ "Banbridge". Travel Now. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  2. ↑ "Legananny Dolmen". Environment and Heritage Service NI - State Care Historic Monuments. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  3. ↑ Weir, A (1980). Early Ireland. A Field Guide. Belfast: Blackstaff Press. p. 137.
  4. ↑ "Legananny Dolmen in Drumgooland parish". Ros Davies' Co. Down, Northern Ireland Genealogy Research Site. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
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