Ballina Live

Description

The Cloghgle Portal Dolmen whis is know locally as the Dolmen of the four moals is situated on top of a hill at the back of the railway station. With a great view of the town and the river Moy. 

The story of the Dolmen reaches back to the king of Connact in the seventh century, King Guaire Aidhne. Whilst Guaire was a popular leader, it seemed he was not the rightful heir to the throne. The true heir to the throne of Connacht was a man by the name of Ceallach, who in is youth left his family and joined the priesthood and became Bishop of Kilmoremoy.

 It was said that Guaire ordered his four brothers (foster brothers) who were known as the four maols as there names all began with the syllable “Maol” to murder Ceallach. After they had murdered Ceallach, Guaire hunted down the four and had them tied to chairs and taken to the hill were the dolmens stand today, then called “Tullach na Fairsciona” which means the hill of the prospect, where he had them hanged. And that’s were the name Ard na Riaghadh comes from – the hill of the executions.

So what happened to the four moals?

Well, legend has it that there bodies were buried at a place which became know as Ard na Maol – the hill of the maols. Where the dolmen marks there resting place. 

Map/Directions