Townland of Tromaty
Area: 586 acres
Irish Name: Dromatagh
Trom-Achadh - Field of Heavy Soil
Spelling Variations:
Interpretation and translation of the name by Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh
(1) Calluragh (Children's Burial Ground - Early Christian) and
(2) Standing Stone (Megalithic)
At Clonelly, just over 1 mile N. of and further up along straight
road, a road branches W. just S. of it, in three adjacent fields.
On E. slope of Crockglass. Arable. Magnificent view.
(1) The site is marked Calluragh Burial Ground on the map; this
indicates that it was an Infant's or Children's Burial Ground. The
words Calluragh, Caldragh etc. are, in my experience, little, if
at all, used in Inishowen.
In the W. corner of the field, bounded by the field banks on the
N.W. and S.W. sides: of the other two sides of the rectangular enclosure
each is bounded by a well-defined wall, albeit partly ruined and
overgrown. There is much bracken, and one of two rowan trees in
the grass-covered enclosure which has many stones as though grave-markers,
but some are in groups as though remains of a possible building
? there is some large white quartz. The wall at the S.W. is practically
gone, the site just sloping down to field level. Mass used to be
celebrated here, presumably in Penal Times. Local tradition:
Mass used to be celebrated under a rowan tree at the enclosing field
wall at the S.W. but fairies objecting to this changed the rowan
tree into a hawthorn bush. Fairies were often seen dancing etc.
both here and at the Giant's Grave to N.W.
Measurements:
Diameter N.E. - S.W.
Diameter N.W. - S. E.
Highest part of wall
Greatest width |
123 ft
79 ft
3 ft 6 ins
2 ft |
(2) Standing Stone: This stone is near the S.E. boundary in
association with other stones, including a large piece of white quartz.
There is a vein of quartz in the standing stone.
Measurements: 4 ft. x 2 ft. 6 ins. x 2 ft. at base ) it tapers)
Mound
This long mound is in the middle field to the S.E. field bank. Although
somewhat irregular in shape it is mainly rectangular. It is grass-covered
with some large stones showing. One might suspect a chambered grave,
but there seems to be no local knowledge of such whereas the traditions
for the two other sites in this group are strong.
Measurements: (approx) 7yds x 4 yds x 4 ft 6 ins (at highest)
Giant's Grave and Clonelly Standing Stone (Megalithic)
This structure is mainly situated in the next field to the N.W.
to above. and the field is bounded on its N.W. side by another road
running S.W. from Clonelly. The monument is incorporated in the
S.W. field wall, and is very much ruined, some of the destruction
having taken place in recent years, including the removal of a capstone.
The main part of the chambered grave was on the N.E. side of the
field wall, stones on their edges (A, B) had supported the capstone.
This part is locally pointed out as the Giant's Grave. A stone (C)
is standing up out of the field wall, and another stone (D) stands
on the other side of the wall and is referred to as the Clonelly
Standing Stone. On this side of the wall a large stone lies almost
buried.
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Measurements:
Stone A (on edge)
Stone B (on edge, leaning towards A)
Stone C (sticking out of bank)
Stone D (Clonelly Standing Stone)
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4 ft 2 ins x 2 ft x 1 ft
3 ft 6 ins x 10 ins (length unknown as it is embedded in bank)
1 ft 6 ins higher than A
4 ft x 2 ft 8 ins x 2 ft |
Taken from The Heritage of Inishowen by Mabel R. Colhourn
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