New stone?

Poulnabrone 6

Image by CianMcLiam

CianMcLiam Jan 31, 2006 23:49:56

I was flicking through a book called 'Reading the Irish Landscape' in a bookshop and saw some great old photos of sites like Boleycarrigeen (before the plantation, the views are stunning as expected!) and one of Poulnabrone before the restoration work in the 80's. On what I would call the 'North' side there is only one side stone, the portal stone is missing. I had read that this stone was fractured and need some work done on it, but in this photo it looks like there was no stone there.

Has anyone got more photos of the tomb before the restoration? I'd love to see them and also find out if the portal thats there now is original or not.

FourWinds Jan 31, 2006 23:58:41

Replying to CianMcLiam

That is a superb book!

Re:Boleycarrigeen. I believe the trees are due to come down within the next few months :-)

The trees have gone elsewhere in the area, especially around St. brigit's Chair http://www.megalithomania.com/show/image/4993 which is about 1 mile up the track. There are now great views of the hill that dominates this now Christianised kist.

Re:Poulnabrone ... I don't know.

FourWinds Feb 1, 2006 00:08:44

Replying to CianMcLiam

Well here's a picture that shows just one stone on the one side, but it's not the portal stone that's missing

http://www.islandhanomag.de/irland1.htm

This one ( http://www.burrenpage.com/Poulnabrone.html ) looks very dodgy and perhaps just has one stone each side. You can see the old field walls beyond it that have now been cleared away.

CianMcLiam Mar 9, 2006 23:58:45

Replying to CianMcLiam

Was back at Poulnabrone again this evening, something about that place keeps bringing me back. Anyway, two things that have puzzled me about Poulnabrone were solved today.

The portal stone on the 'east' side was indeed replaced in the 1985/86 excavation/conservation. The original is now lying prostrate in front of the tomb, what I had though could have been two kerbstones for the cairn the tomb sits on is ion fact this original portal stone.

This info was gleaned from the two new info boards along the path to the tomb, there are now three very informative boards there in English and Gaelic. 10/10 for effort anyway!