Brittas

Portal Tomb
T298851

Also known as:

Grave of the Princess and The Castletimon dolmen

Nearest town:

Wicklow (9km N)

OS reference:

T298851

OS sheet:

Latitude:

52° 54' 4.08 N

Longitude:

6° 4' 14.74 W

Added to TMA by

FourWinds

Images (2)
News (1)
Folklore (1)

Images

Image of Brittas (Portal Tomb) by ryaner

One of the uprights can just be made out on the right of the mound. You could make a few bottles of elderberry wine from tree that’s growing in the chamber!

Image credit: ryaner

ryaner Sep 8, 2006

7/9/06 Capstone barely visible amongst all that growth.

Image credit: ryaner

ryaner Sep 8, 2006

Articles

Brittas

Investigation into Brittas Bay dolmen damage

ryaner Mar 29, 2016

Damage to an ancient dolmen in Brittas Bay has been reported to the gardaí and the National Monument Service.

The megalithic tomb named the Castletimon Dolmen dates back close to 4,000 years and is a protected monument.

Part of the structure appears to have been knocked down, while stones and earth have been pulled away.

Steven Brennan of the Brittas Bay Tourism Association said the destruction of the Dolmen has caused widespread local anger.

‘I was pretty shocked when I first saw the damage. People are very annoyed. It’s a very historic area and needs to be treated with the respect it deserves.

‘People are embarrassed by this incident. It’s one of Wicklow’s oldest human structures and is one of only four on the east coast of Ireland.‘

The whole area is of significant historical importance with a number of standing stones, cairns, a fourth century Ogham stone and a recently newly discovered standing stone. There is also a sixth century monastery nearby which was second in importance only to Glendalough.

More:
independent.ie/regionals/wicklowpeople/news/investigation-into-brittas-bay-dolmen-damage-34563576.html

Brittas

Portal Tomb

Rhiannon Sep 29, 2007

From the top of [Castletimon] hill the legend has it, that some mighty giant of old hurled the covering stone at his brother giant of Ballinaclea hill in a moment of anger, but, falling short of its intended aim, the stone rested on the bank of the river, there meeting the pillar-stones flung by him of Balinaclea at his antagonist of Castletimon.

He concludes the article by saying he will leave the Ogham stone, ruined church and cromlech:
under the protection of the genii of Castletimon hill, and the peasantry of the neighbourhood; and I hope that the dreaded anger of the former, or the stout hands of the latter, may preserve them from the Vandalic clutches of those who would convert them into gate-posts, hob-stones, or road-metal.

‘Description of a Cromleac and Ogham monument near Castletimon Church, County of Wicklow, by Mr J C Tuomey, N T.
in the Proc/Trans of Kilkenny and South East of Ireland Arch. Soc. vol III (1854-5). (viewable at Google Books).