Gray — Irish Cromlechs. 247 



10. CAUSEWAY WATER CROMLECH. 

 Sketch No. 10. 

 The Causeway Water is a mountain stream that runs south- 

 west along the eastern boundary of the townland of Kilfeaghan, 

 and crosses the public road from Warrenpoint to Kilkeel, four 

 miles from the latter place. To the west of the river, on the 

 slope of Kurckshee, there is an excellent cromlech on a site that 

 overlooks Carlingford Lough. A block of rounded granite ten 

 feet long, eight feet wide, and five feet thick, weighing probably 

 30 tons, forms the cap stone over a chamber composed of several 

 granite blocks on end. The site has become a rubbish-heap for 

 ages, and all the loose field stones and other impediments to 

 farming operations have been collected around the cromlech so 

 far as to almost hinder the goats from taking shelter in the 

 chamber as they were wont to do. To the east of the cromlech, 

 and close to the bank of the river, there is another megalithic 

 structure, more like a kistvaen, and the site around has yielded 

 several examples of stone implements. 



11. SLIEVENAGRIDDEL CROMLECH. 



On the topmost peak of Slievnagriddel Mountain, within a 

 few miles to the east of Downpatrick, there are the prostrate 

 remains of a once standing cromlech. The blocks that com- 

 posed it are now resting on the bare rock. The cap stone 

 measures eight feet by six feet, and below it are two slabs that 

 formed the sides of the original chamber. It is said that this 

 cromlech was thrown down by the officials of the Ordnance 

 Survey. 



12. SAMSON'S STONE CROMLECH. 



Near Downpatrick, to the south of the town, there is a large 

 transported block known as Samson's Stone. This may be the 

 remains of a cromlech such Mr. Du Noyer describes as "earth- 

 fast.''* The Rev. J. O'Laverty, M.R.I.A., refers to this as a 

 " ruined cromlech." See his work on Down and Connor. Vol. 

 1., page 252. 



• Kilkenny Archaeological Society. Vol. V. New Series. 



