Dolmen of the Four Maols — Attraction in County Mayo

A sign at the site tells us that this is a “Megalithic” structure. So what does Megalithic mean? Well “Mega” means “big” (we all know that!) and Prof Google tells us that “Lithos” is the Ancient Greek for “Stones”. So “Megalithic” basically means “big stones” or more usually a structure or monument made from big stones. And this monument, this Dolmen, is definitely made from big stones! It seems a lot of this type of “big stone” stuff was going on worldwide from about 2,500BC to about 250AD and the general consensus is that this particular Dolmen was erected about 2,000 years ago. A sobering thought. How did they do it? Why did they do it? Many structures / houses that were built in Ireland only 20 to 30 years ago are actually FALLING DOWN today! Ask homeowners in Mayo and Donegal (and elsewhere) about Mica and Pyrite and why their homes are falling down. This structure was built 2,000 years ago and is still standing proud. Makes you...

While not of major excitement, this offers a simple access to our historical past without having to travel or climb. It is the burial place of four traitors known as the four maol, which in Irish means bald. They were in the service of monks at the time they murdered, and thus all had shaved heads.

No cost to enter. Located almost in the...

Nice little spot that overlooks a part of Ballina town. The ground around the dolmen is well kept, but there is a industrial estate built right beside it. There isn't any parking space as it's just off a fairly busy road, but you can park in the industrial estate beside the dolmen and it's a couple of...