I felt a bit like Fagan (in 1847) and Moore (in 1871) who both, on their visits here, “found it difficult to interpret, perhaps because of its disordered state…”. That, and the rain. Well really only the rain – but the place is not looked after, ‘state care’ being meant only euphemistically. Board of Works restoration at the end of the 19th century, the concrete track in the 20th and a bit of signage and the place is left to itself.
The car park is handy. So is the concrete track. Then you’re more or less on your own, and it’s swampy. And the rain. And the two companions, me thinking I should have left them in the car.
I would normally say that this is a fantastic place – the two subsidiary chambers, one in each arm of the court; the two carved stones; and the two parallel chambers, reminiscent of magnificent Magheraghanrush in Sligo. But not today. We were beaten back to the car by the torrent, waterproofs proving to be barely water-resistant in the West Donegal downpour. In these times of I-take-what-I-can-get, this was a very rushed visit and utterly frustrating. I’ll have to come back.