Haroldstown Dolmen

Haroldstown Dolmen

Heritage Site

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Deirdre Burns

Wicklow County Council

52.845107, -6.663797

Haroldstown Dolmen is an impressive portal tomb, located on the banks of the Dereen River, close to the Acaun bridge. Constructed around 2500 BC, legend has it that marks on the capstone were the hand prints of a giant. Local folklore also recounts that the chamber was used as a makeshift family house in the 1840s. Although on private land, it is visible from the roadside.

Haroldstown Dolmen is an impressive portal tomb, located on the banks of the Dereen River, close to the Acaun bridge. The monument is located on private land but is visible from the roaside.

Portal tombs were constructed as burial places between 2000 and 3000 BC and were originally covered by a mound, with an entrance or portal retained to allow access to the chamber. At this site there are two substantial overlapping capstones c. 4 m and 3 m long, resting on a large chamber comprised of two well preserved upright, a large doorstone and side stones. The chamber faces north westerly in direction. There appear to be two possible cupmarks on the upper capstone representing early Rock Art or as legend has it, the hand prints of a giant who throw the stone. Local folklore also recounts that the chamber was used as a makeshift dwelling house for a family in the 1840s.

No

Yes

Archaelogical, Historical

Private Lands

Wicklow

Baltinglass