Tullyskeherny

Nearest town:
Manorhamilton (3km WNW)
OS reference:
G9037
OS sheets:
16, 26
Latitude:
54° 16' 53.79 N
Longitude:
8° 9' 12.77 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Tullyskeherny (Court Tomb) by ryaner

Burren type limestone pavement, 50 metres from the tombs. It’s reckoned that both tombs were built directly onto similar ground.

Image credit: ryaner
ryaner
ryaner Aug 3, 2011
Image of Tullyskeherny (Court Tomb) by ryaner

Subsidiary chamber at the back of the northern tomb, one of six.

Image credit: ryaner
ryaner
ryaner Aug 3, 2011
Image of Tullyskeherny (Court Tomb) by ryaner

The remains of the court are just about visible in the northern tomb.

Image credit: ryaner
ryaner
ryaner Aug 3, 2011
Image of Tullyskeherny (Court Tomb) by ryaner

Two separate court tombs, set back-to-back 5 metres apart. The northern tomb, more complex, is nearest in this shot.

Image credit: ryaner
ryaner
ryaner Aug 3, 2011

Articles

Tullyskeherny

ryaner
ryaner Aug 3, 2011

Two court tombs, back to back but 5 metres apart, unlike Aghanaglack, a dual court tomb with only a stone separating the galleries. This place is all about place. Yes there’s the tombs, the northern one of which is like no other, but it’s where they’re at is where it’s at.

From Manorhamilton, a 5 minute drive to a gate, and a further minute along a track at the side of some forestry and it all opens up. The track remains drivable past the tombs but I parked just before and above them. Wild Irish peatland, in places eroded down to the limestone pavement, and views for miles all around. Benbo to the west is dominant, north-west into Sligo you can see Truskmore and Tievebaun. The plateau that you’re on rises to the south and it looks bleak in that direction forever.

I had to come here after reading Anthony Weir’s description of the tombs. It was their situation that captivated me however. The wrecks of both tombs take patience to work out. Weir says 2 chambers in the main gallery with 6 subsidiary chambers set into the cairn at the back of the northern tomb.
The southern tomb is less complex with a 2-chambered gallery. Both tombs have some remains of their courts.

I spent most of my time here just wandering about the area, over towards the old farmhouse, marvelling at the formations of the limestone, parts of which are crowned with half a metre of peat. At the end of it all I didn’t want to leave. A great spot to camp out in I’d say, though pegging the tent down might be difficult in this terrain. Wonderful place.

Sites within 20km of Tullyskeherny

Like all websites everywhere, we use cookies.