Cunard Portal Tomb
The Shed Stone of Cunard
Location
In the hills southwest of Tallaght, amidst the Dublin Mountains, lies the Portal Tomb of Cunard. Nestled beside a gurgling stream on marshy terrain, this ancient structure stands on a slope overlooking the Dodder River and gazing towards Seefin passage tomb on a mountain top to the south west, with it's back to civilisation. It is a place of natural beauty, where the otherworld feels close at hand.
History
Portal tombs were built to bury the dead during the Irish Neolithic period, they are still however shrouded in mystery, often being situated at the edge of townlands and natural dividers in the landscape such as bodies of water. These megalithic structures, found in both Ireland and Britain, stand as silent sentinels of ancient rituals and a forgotten faith. The Portal Tomb of Cunard, or Cionn Ard (meaning 'high headland'), is a well-preserved example despite antiquarians declaring it a glacial remnant. It's portal faces south west towards the land of Donn, the ancient God of the dead, in the land of the setting sun.
This portal tomb, substantially intact, is marked on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map as a 'cromleac'.
It consists of two imposing vertical stones capped horizontally by a massive slab of granite. The tomb stands as a testament to the craftsmanship of its builders, with the western portal stone rising to 1.7 meters, while its eastern counterpart stands slightly shorter at 1.5 meters, compensating for the slope of the hill.
The Portal Tomb of Cunard is more than just a relic of the past; it feels like a doorway to another realm, a place where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur. As you stand before this ancient structure, let the whispers of the wind and the murmur of the stream carry you back to a time when this land was sacred to some. This site in particular is one of my favourites, it is exceptionally beautiful and the placement of the tomb at a liminal watery crossroads makes it feel like you have stepped into the otherworld and that the ancient ones are close at hand.
Location
In the hills southwest of Tallaght, amidst the Dublin Mountains, lies the Portal Tomb of Cunard. Nestled beside a gurgling stream on marshy terrain, this ancient structure stands on a slope overlooking the Dodder River and gazing towards Seefin passage tomb on a mountain top to the south west, with it's back to civilisation. It is a place of natural beauty, where the otherworld feels close at hand.
The tomb is set on a steep, southwest-facing slope of the rock-strewn Glassamucky Brakes (Mothar Ghlaise na Muice, meaning 'the brakes of the streamlet of the swine-herd'). This peaceful locale overlooks the valley of the Dodder, a river which has born silent witness to all of human history and development in Dublin. The tomb is flanked by brooding mountains: Glendoo Mountain (Sliabh an Ghleanna Dhuibh, meaning 'glen of the black moor') and Glassamucky Mountain to the east and northeast, and Corrig Mountain (An Charraig) and Seahan Mountain (An Suíochán) to the west. It lies 2 meters from a streamlet known as 'Cot Brook', which flows east-west and joins the River Dodder further down the slope. This setting imbues the tomb with an eerie tranquillity, as the sound of flowing water mingles with the rustling of leaves of the nearby Rowan tree, and the distant calls of raptors and herons.
History
Portal tombs were built to bury the dead during the Irish Neolithic period, they are still however shrouded in mystery, often being situated at the edge of townlands and natural dividers in the landscape such as bodies of water. These megalithic structures, found in both Ireland and Britain, stand as silent sentinels of ancient rituals and a forgotten faith. The Portal Tomb of Cunard, or Cionn Ard (meaning 'high headland'), is a well-preserved example despite antiquarians declaring it a glacial remnant. It's portal faces south west towards the land of Donn, the ancient God of the dead, in the land of the setting sun.
Description
This portal tomb, substantially intact, is marked on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map as a 'cromleac'.
It consists of two imposing vertical stones capped horizontally by a massive slab of granite. The tomb stands as a testament to the craftsmanship of its builders, with the western portal stone rising to 1.7 meters, while its eastern counterpart stands slightly shorter at 1.5 meters, compensating for the slope of the hill.
The diamond-shaped capstone, a colossal slab measuring 2.5 meters in length, 1.8 meters in width, and 0.80 meters in depth, rests precariously atop the portal stones. A deep fissure runs horizontally across the capstone, adding to its air of ancient, brooding menace. The western side-stone, now fallen, lies partially under the capstone, while the eastern side-stone remains standing, stubbornly defying the passage of time. There is some evidence in the area of the cairn that would have once covered the surviving orthostats.
The Portal Tomb of Cunard is more than just a relic of the past; it feels like a doorway to another realm, a place where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur. As you stand before this ancient structure, let the whispers of the wind and the murmur of the stream carry you back to a time when this land was sacred to some. This site in particular is one of my favourites, it is exceptionally beautiful and the placement of the tomb at a liminal watery crossroads makes it feel like you have stepped into the otherworld and that the ancient ones are close at hand.
Directions
The monument is marked on Google Maps. After a sharp right turn on Cunard Road Upper, if coming from the Hellfire Club and Timbertrove Cafe direction, there is an immediate parking spot on the left however keep going a few more metres and there will be a second lay-by that is closer. Walk north along the road for a few metres and cross the stream, immediately take a left off the road and start following it down the mountain, keeping it on your left. We had to cross once where the gorse became thick but it is very narrow and easy to hop over. This may be difficult terrain after heavy rain. There are young trees protected from deer by white fencing, head towards them and the portal tomb is not far after that. You will cross another smaller stream, be wary of gaps in the ground around it that could catch an ankle.
Accessibility
The monument is not marked from the road and there is no trail or path at all. There are many free roaming sheep in the area. The tomb is easily found by following the stream downhill for 20 minutes. Hiking boots recommended! This is an amazing area for a picnic just remember to pack all your rubbish away and leave the monument better than you found it.
