Goward Dolmen facts for kids
Goward Dolmen is a very old stone structure called a dolmen. It is also sometimes known as a cromlech or portal tomb. This amazing ancient monument is found in County Down, Northern Ireland. You can find it between the towns of Hilltown and Castlewellan.
The dolmen sits in a farmer's field in an area called Goward. It is part of the Clonduff parish. Local people have given it a few different names over time. Some call it Pat Kearney's Big Stone. Others know it as Cloughmore Cromlech.
Goward Dolmen is a special place. It is looked after as a State Care Historic Monument. This means it is protected by the government because it is an important part of history. Its exact location is at grid reference J2437 3104.
What is Goward Dolmen?
A dolmen is a type of megalithic tomb. This means it is built from very large stones. People built these structures a very long time ago, often in the Neolithic period. They were used as burial chambers.
Goward Dolmen has a huge stone on top called a capstone. This capstone has moved from its original flat position. It now leans to one side. This shows how old the structure is and how much it has changed over time.
Amazing Features of the Dolmen
The capstone of Goward Dolmen is truly massive. It is about 13 feet (4 meters) long. It is also around 10 feet (3 meters) wide. Experts believe this giant stone weighs about 50 tons! The whole structure stands about 14 feet (4.2 meters) tall.
The capstone has slipped sideways. This might have happened because a stone at the back collapsed. Now, the capstone hangs over the burial chamber on its north side.
The burial chamber itself is about 9 feet (2.7 meters) long. It does not have any dividing walls inside. The entrance to the chamber faces east. Two tall stones stand on either side of the entrance. These might be what is left of a curved front area.
In 1834, people found some interesting items inside the chamber. They discovered a cremation urn and a flint arrowhead. These finds tell us more about the people who used the dolmen long ago. There are also some stones standing alone on the eastern side. These suggest the dolmen might have once had a special entrance area, like a court-tomb.
Local Stories and Names
Goward Dolmen has many interesting local names. One name is Finn's Finger. This name comes from the legendary giant Finn MacCool. People thought the tall, slender stone at the front of the chamber looked like his finger.
Another common name is Pat Kearney's Big Stone. This name came from a man who lived nearby. For many years, Pat Kearney unofficially looked after the monument. He made sure it was safe and cared for.
These names show how important the dolmen has been to the local community for a very long time. It is not just an old stone structure. It is also a part of local history and folklore.
