Coom Wedge Tomb facts for kids
Viewed from the north-east
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 Location in Ireland
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| Location | Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry |
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| Coordinates | 51°49′24.7″N 10°18′48.9″W / 51.823528°N 10.313583°W |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
The Coom Wedge Tomb is a very old site from the Neolithic period, also known as the Stone Age. You can find it on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. It's located close to the Skellig Ring, which is a scenic route on the western side of the peninsula. This ancient tomb offers a peek into how people lived and buried their dead thousands of years ago.
What is a Wedge Tomb?
A wedge tomb is a special type of ancient burial place. It's built with large stones and gets narrower and lower towards one end, like a wedge. The Coom Wedge Tomb is about 5 meters (16 feet) long and 1.5 meters (5 feet) wide. Its entrance faces the west.
Exploring the Tomb's Design
Inside the tomb, there's a main chamber that is about 3 meters (10 feet) long. A single large stone slab covers this chamber. In front of the main chamber, there's an open area called an antechamber. This area has three big stones on each side. The tallest of these stones stands about 1.5 meters (5 feet) high. Imagine how much effort it took for ancient people to move and place these huge stones without modern tools!
The Legend of Diarmuid and Gráinne
Coom Wedge Tomb is also famous because of an old Irish story. In the tale called The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne, the hero Diarmuid Ua Duibhne and the princess Gráinne were running away from Fionn mac Cumhaill. To escape, they often hid in caves. If there were no caves around, Diarmuid would quickly build shelters for them.
Many wedge tombs across Ireland, including the Coom Wedge Tomb, are known as "Diarmuid and Gráinne's Bed." People believed these tombs were the very shelters where the famous couple rested during their chase. It's a fun way to connect ancient history with exciting myths!
