Manger Megalithic Tomb, The Druids Altar and Ballycoolan Cairn

 Manger Megalithic Tomb 
The Druids Altar 

and 
Ballycoolan Cairn

In a particularly quiet and panoramic corner of Laois are the remains of several Megalithic antiquities perhaps dating back to the Bronze age and beyond.

The area encompasses Luggacurren, Dysart Enos, Clopook, Wolfhill and Fossy Mountain.

Most if not all of the many Standing Stones, possible Neolithic Dolmens, Bronze age Cists and prehistoric ritual and funerary monuments that once crowded this area have disappeared or long since been destroyed.

They are unfortunately lost to posterity and little remembered apart from recollections and writings in journals and antiquarian books that were generally written during the 1800's and early 1900's.

Three prehistoric remnants are relatively well known from that small area along with a forgotten and half hidden Standing Stone, The Standing Stone of Clopook and Clopook Hillfort.

All have access difficulties except what is described as a "Megalithic Tomb" at Ass's Manger in Luggacurren. Although it is a roadside antiquity is is usually buried deep beneath undergrowth and can be difficult to locate.

Fully described as a "Megalithic Tomb Unclassified" this probable Cist type structure at Ass's Manger was located close to a now missing row of Standing Stones. There were also records of several other Cists being found and opened that were close by at Luggacurren.

The first photograph below shows the Cist type structure completely overgrown and subsequent photographs show it after removal of some of the overgrowth. A tiny section of Corbelling type construction is visible inside the structure.

I have also included a black and white photograph taken from 

O'Hanlon and O'Leary - History of the Queen's County.

Below is a Screen shot from a History of the Queens County referencing some of the prehistory of the area.

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The Druids Altar is located in an area between Luggacurren and Wolfhill called Monamanry. It is simply described as a "Megalithic Structure." O'Hanlon described it as a Dolmen.

It is roughly 1.5 Kms West-southwest of Ass's Manger.

Today it is a single recumbent slab surrounded by a circle of kerbstones. There is difficulty in interpreting exactly what it is when its original form and structure may have been altered over time. It is nonetheless a wonderful and rare Laois Megalith.

The encircling kerbstones suggest it may once have been covered by a large tumulus of earth or stones while the lone central stone is suggestive of that of a tomb's Capstone although this is just speculation on my part.

There were several Fulacht Fiadh recorded nearby. 

These are believed to have been cooking pits from antiquity.

 

I have also included another black and white photograph from O'Hanlon and O'Leary.

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Ballycoolan Cairn is a mystery.

It is a large mound which appears to consist of a huge mound of loose stones reminiscent of multi-Cist or Passage tomb type burials. It could be any number of types of prehistoric burial styles.

What seems to be in no doubt though is that it is in fact a Megalithic burial mound representative of either the Neolithic or Bronze age. Without archaeological investigation we will never know. 

With the paucity of these kind of artifacts in Laois I find it strange that little by way of archaeological investigation is ever undertaken in an effort to discover more about the ancient inhabitants of Laois.

It is also covered in grasses, moss and soil making full identification difficult. There are no obvious kerbstones that I noticed.

Partial depressions on the Cairn suggest collapsed chambers or Cists, it's hard to tell. My photographs are poor and can't convey the huge volume of loose stone used in its construction. 

Perhaps hundreds of tons of material was used in its construction, its difficult to judge its full extent at the present time.

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If you travel north through Luggacurren and on to Clopook you will come across the ruins of a medieval Church. Sited on top of a hill and easily visible behind the Church is the Bronze age Hillfort of Clopook. 

This is a multi period site which was used over and over again. It is also the location of one of the few caves to be found in Laois.

A local community group were previously unsuccessful in their efforts to purchase the site for the benefit of Laois.

Not far from here is the Standing Stone of Clopook which was reputedly half dropped by a Giant who was trying to fling it towards Carlow direction from the Rock of Dunamase. He was competing against another Giant, as Giants often do, in a Stone throwing contest.

Standing Stones are believed to generally date to the Bronze age. The Stone at Clopook is difficult to find in the extreme. I also called the farmer in advance to rubber stamp my searching.

Pictured below is a lone photograph of the Hillfort at Clopook from a distance and several photographs of the Standing Stone of Clopook.

Keep the Wheels turning.