Proleek Dolmen

Located within the picturesque Cooley Peninsula, Proleek Dolmen is one of Ireland’s best-known megalithic tombs. Today, the Dolmen is situated in the middle of the golf course at the Ballymascanlon House Hotel.

It is made up of three supporting legs, and a capstone that weighs approximately 40 tonnes!

There are various folkloric legends connected with Proleek Dolmen, with some interesting stories from oral tradition found on Dúchas.ie:

• One person recounts being warned by “the old people…to clear out of the place before 6 ‘ oclock or wee people will carry you away for ever. It is said to be a great meeting place of the fairies.”
• Another account says that Proleek is the burial place of a chieftain…or perhaps a giant.
• Another local says Proleek is known as The Giant’s Load: “it is said the giant who put it up got his death of drinking of waters from the river these being poisoned by an enemy.”

Some believe that the Dolmen was carried to Ireland across the waters from Scotland, by a giant named Parrah Boug McShagean…who is now buried nearby.

Just remember to let sleeping giants lie.

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014