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XXII. 



NOTES ON THE TINNECARRA CROMLECH NEAR BOYLE. 

 Br THE REV. FRANCIS E. CLARKE, M.D., LL.D. 



(Plate XYII.) 



[Read June 26, 1899.] 



TuE interesting relic to which these brief notes refer is situated in 

 the townland of Drimminone, and barony of Boyle, in the county of 

 Roscommon, and about two miles from the town of Boyle. It lies 

 25 yards to the north of the Midland Great "Western Railway, 

 close to the crossing, immediately opposite the entrance-gate of 

 Tinnecarra House, the residence of John Powell, Esq., j.p. It is also 

 situated about 200 yards to the north of the river Boyle, where it 

 flows from Lough Gara. The field in which the cromlech stands is 

 in grass, and presents all the marks of attention and cultivation, 

 though for many years it has not been tilled. It belongs to a small 

 farm on the King-Harman estate. 



The cromlech stands out by itself a promineut object, when once 

 we pass the high hedge which shuts it out from view of the railway- 

 track. The spectator looks in vain for any large stones, besides those 

 of which it is composed, which are generally supposed to have been 

 brought from the Curlew Hills, about two miles distant to the north- 

 ward. There are six stones in all, viz. four upright, one that has 

 fallen from its original position, and the large upper covering-stone. 

 The long axis of the cavity faces nearly east and west, orientation 

 deviating less than a point towards the north. The upper stone is 

 silicious sandstone, showing many distinct layers of successive deposits, 

 and is extensively perforated and worn by the corroding influences of 

 exposure. Its greatest length is 13|- feet, and 11 feet in width, with 

 an average thickness of about 20 inches, and has been estimated as 

 being about 17 tons in weight. The ground upon which the struc- 

 ture is reared slopes downwards towards the north. A small mound 

 of earth, evidently for the purpose of securing a level foundation, was. 

 piled on the east and north, averaging about 1 ^ feet from the surface 

 of the surrounding field. 



It is evident that there were originally six upright stones support- 

 ing the immense horizontal slab above, viz. one at the east and west 



