Aideen's Grave is a collapsed megalithic dolmen located in the grounds of Howth Castle in north County Dublin, Ireland.[1]
History and location
editThe tomb, which is said to date to around 2,500 BC, is located on the lower slopes of the Hill of Howth, overlooked by cliffs named Muck Rock and facing south east. It is likely the large cap stone was hewn directly from the quartzite cliff nearby.[2][3]
The name Aideen is said to refer to Étaín, a figure in Irish mythology.[4] She is alternatively mentioned as the daughter or wife of Aengus.[5]
In 2024, calls were made by various politicians to make the tomb and surrounding area a national monument.[6]
Structure
editThe tomb is made up of two portal stones, a door stone and a collapsed colossal roof stone, which weighs an estimated 75 tonnes. The capstone is the second largest in Ireland after the one at Brownshill dolmen in County Carlow. The tomb has a single chamber.[7]
Poem
editThe dolmen is the subject matter of a poem by Samuel Ferguson from 1858 named Aideen's Grave.[8][9][10]
It is said that the poem came about through Ferguson's connection with Howth as well as his connection with the illustrator and antiquarian Margaret Stokes, who also lived nearby.
External links
edit
References
edit- ^ "Howth Dolmen". www.megalithicireland.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Howth Dolmen". Voices from the Dawn. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Charles Philip Kains- (1880). Our Ancient Monuments and the Land Around Them. E. Stock. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Aideen's Grave". Sacred Sites of Ireland - 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Aideen's Grave". howthcastle.ie. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Barrett, Rose (28 May 2024). "Minister urged to declare Aideen's Grave a national monument". Dublin Gazette Newspapers - Dublin News, Sport and Lifestyle. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "DU015-032---- : Megalithic tomb - portal tomb : HOWTH DEMESNE". heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Poem: Aideen's Grave by Sir Samuel Ferguson". www.poetrynook.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Aideen's Grave". celt.ucc.ie. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Ferguson, Samuel. Aideen's grave /. Talbot Press. Retrieved 9 September 2024.