Legananny Dolmen facts for kids

Legananny Dolmen, June 2010

Legananny Dolmen is a very old stone structure in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a type of ancient tomb called a dolmen, also known as a cromlech. You can find it about nine miles (14 km) southeast of Banbridge and three miles (5 km) north of Castlewellan. This amazing monument sits on the side of Slieve Croob mountain, close to the village of Leitrim. It is a special place that the government protects as a historic monument.

What is Legananny Dolmen?

Legananny Dolmen is a "tripod" dolmen, which means it has three tall stones holding up a giant flat stone on top. This top stone, called a capstone, is over 3 meters (10 feet) long and stands about 1.8 meters (6 feet) off the ground. Imagine how big that is!

How Old is This Stone Structure?

This incredible monument was built during the Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age. This means it is about 5,000 years old! That's older than the pyramids of Egypt. People in the Neolithic period used these "portal tombs" as burial sites for their dead.

How Was It Built?

Moving and setting up these huge stones was a massive task for people living 5,000 years ago. They didn't have modern machines! The heavy stones were likely dragged a long way before being carefully put into place. The three stones that support the capstone are unusually long. There are also small signs that there might have been a much larger pile of stones, called a cairn, around the dolmen in the past. When people explored the site, they even found some old pots, called urns, underneath the dolmen.

What Does the Name Legananny Mean?

The name Legananny comes from the Irish language. It means "Áine's standing stone". Áine is a name often found in old Irish stories and myths.

Images for kids

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  Legananny Dolmen, December 2009

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  Legananny Dolmen, December 2009

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  Legannany Dolmen, December 2009

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  Legannany Dolmen, December 2009

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  Legananny Dolmen, December 2009