Megalithic Ireland
Stepping into Ireland's past.
Poulnabrone Dolmen: The “Hole of sorrows.”
In Ireland’s megalithic past, nearly 6,000 years ago, a dedicated group of people gathered to construct a stone monument. Time passed, and the monument endured.
The monument is known as the Poulnabrone dolmen. It means “hole of sorrows.” It is part of Ireland’s ancient history.
Webster’s Dictionary defines dolmen as “a prehistoric monument of two or more upright stones supporting a horizontal stone slab found especially in Britain and France and thought to be a tomb”.
The Burren
The Poulnabrone dolmen is located on the western coast of Ireland in County Clare, in an area known as “The Burren”.
The Burren is a high limestone plateau. It is one of the most unusual topologies I have ever seen. Wild plants and grass grow between the fractures in the limestone surface. It is a unique area because it is home to tropical and arctic wildflowers.
One of the most photographed sites in Ireland.
When you visit you will see it off in the distance. It is a short walk from the car park to the site of the monument. Imagine how many have walked this path before you in the past 6,000 years.
Poulnabrone is one of the most photographed ancient sites in Ireland. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations for anyone visiting the west of Ireland, second only to the Cliffs of Moher.
Poulnabrone is a “must-see” site.
I have visited Poulnabrone several times. It is a “must-see” site whenever I visit Ireland.
Each time I visit, I take lots of photographs. When I am finished, I sit down and let the spirit of the place fill my soul. I am drawn to Poulnabrone. It is part of me. Poulnabrone and the Burren have captured my soul.
The remarkable ancient people.
I marvel at the capabilities of these ancient people. How they cut and moved the stone is a mystery to me. Even more mysterious is how they lifted the cap. These stones must be a tremendous weight, as you can see from the photographs.
I love ancient sites like Poulnabrone. They are a physical connection to the ancient people who built the dolmen. I wonder about their daily life. What did they believe? Who did they worship? What caused them to build this monument?
You must visit.
You must visit the Poulnabrone dolmen if you ever visit Ireland. You will be rewarded with a truly unique experience. Poulnabrone and the Burren may capture your soul too.
Learn more about Poulnabrone and the Burren.
I encourage you to learn more about Poulnabrone and the Burren by visiting these websites:
This first website has a wonderful video that introduces you to Poulnabrone and the Burren.
http://www.carrowkeel.com/sites/burren/burren2.html
The next two websites give you additional information you may find helpful.
https://www.burrengeopark.ie/discover-explore/geosites-discovery-points/poulnabrone/
http://irisharchaeology.ie/2013/06/poulnabrone-tomb-life-and-death-in-the-burren/
The author created the photographs in this article.
© Thomas Dean.