Carrickavrantry

The Wedge tomb at Carrickavrantry is one of two in the county (the other Munmahoge) and like all tombs of this kind faces the west or south-west to catch the setting sun.

It has been suggested that these funnel shaped tombs were openings to the 'Otherworld' and were precisely aligned to points on the horizon to catch the last rays of sun during the darker and shorter days of the year. It was late afternoon in February when I visited there and the sun was already making its presence into the chamber (see photo).

Much of the cairn that covered this tomb still remains. The gallery is 2 metres long and over 1 metre wide with a smooth faced capstone covering the entrance. The tomb, which unfortunately is not so well cared for, is situated in the corner of a field amid a rocky landscape known as the "Rock of the Quern Stone maker" and overlooks Carrickavrantry lake to the west.  

Directions: From the town of Tramore take the R682 north-west. Then take the first left and drive to the next left turn. Turn left and continue  down to a farmyard on the left with a bungalow opposite (where the road appears to stop). Here there is an open yard in which to park. Take the rough track upwards and continue straight keeping a field on your right. The tomb is located at the corner where the track turns sharpley right.

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