Dolmen of the Four Maols
Coordinates: 54 ° 6 ′ 25.2 " N , 9 ° 9 ′ 56.5" W.
The Dolmen of the Four Maols ("Dolmen of the four Maols", Irish Ard na Maol - ( German "Höhe der Maols" )), also "Cloghogle", Irish Cloch Tógála ( German "Stone of the Elevation" corresponds to "Dolmen") is on the outskirts of Ballina in County Mayo in Ireland . Among the Irish megalithic complexes , the dolmen's location at the highest point in the area is unusual. The River Moy is less than a kilometer away.
The system was damaged so that classification is not possible. Three bearing stones with heights of 0.75 m to 1.1 m, which carry an oversized 0.6 m thick capstone, survived. Another large stone is four meters away. The construction is likely part of a larger north-south facing facility.
Legend
There is a notice board at the site of a legend related to the dolmen, the story of Caithréim Cellaig ("Cellach's career") from the Historical Cycle. Cellach mac Eógain, the son of Eógan Bél, King of Connacht, was a monk in Clonmacnoise . After the death of his father, he first took over the inheritance. However, besieged by his rival Guaire Aidne , he renounced the throne in favor of his brother Muiredach (Cú Choingelt) and eventually became Bishop of Kilmoremoy ( Cill Mhór Mhuaidhe ), now Ballina, and became a valuable advisor to his brother Muiredach. The four closest companions of Guaire, the so-called "four Maols" (New Irish maol = bald, Central Irish mael: Mael Cróin , Mael Seanaig , Mael Dá Lua and Mael Deóraid , eigtl. Mac Deóraid ) murdered him at the behest of Guaire. Muiredach took revenge on them and had them executed. They were taken to Ardnaree Hill ( Ard na Ria ), the Hill of Execution. Ardnaree is east of the dolmen on the other side of the River Moy. After the Maols were hanged, their bodies were taken through a secret tunnel under the River Moy to Primrose Hill and buried in the dolmen that bears their name. Muiredach was finally slain by Guaire, who made him king.
See also
literature
- Peter Harbison : Pre-Christian Ireland From the first Settlers to the early Celts. Thames and Hudson, London 1988, ISBN 0-500-27809-1 p. 168