Tyrone Antiquities

EDITED EXTRACTS FROM THE TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF IRELAND, 1837

THE remains of antiquity are neither numerous nor particularly interesting.

Raths are scattered over almost every part: near the western border of the mountain called Mary Gray, more than 12 of them may be seen within the compass of a mile: they are generally in pairs; many are now scarcely discernible, in consequence of the farmers having drawn off the mould for manure.

The most perfect has a parapet six feet high, with stepping-stones projecting from the inner sides in an oblique direction to the top, like the winding of a staircase: its diameter is 33 yards.

Newtownstewart Cromlech (Green Collection/NMNI)

A very remarkable Druidical monument, called Cloghtogle, or the "lifted stone," stands on a hill a mile north of Newtownstewart: it consists of three large stones set upright in a triangular position, about seven feet high each, and covered with a broad horizontal flag, 11 feet long, 7 broad, and 15 inches thick.

On an opposite hill, at a distance of about 100 yards, was a similar relic of larger dimensions, now lying on the ground.

There is a large and very beautiful one, also called Cloghtogle, at Tamlaght, near Coagh; and there is another, but less perfect, in the demesne of Loughry, and a very noble one, a quarter of a mile above Castlederg.

At Kilmeillie [Beaghmore?], near Dungannon, are two circles of stones, in the form of the figure 8.

An urn was found in a little sandy hill near Cookstown.

Near Omagh, three small chests containing as many urns was found in 1712, under two heaps of stones.

In the parish of Errigal Keerogue is a flat stone set upright, having one side covered with carvings of a regular design, consisting of waving and circular lines: it had been the cover of a vault formed of flags set edgeways: in the vault were two earthen vessels containing ashes.

Near Dungannon were found several brazen trumpets of an uncommon construction, with a hole in the side, and the smaller end stopped, supposed to have been Danish.

The monastic institutions, od which traces yet remain, are those of Ardboe, Ardstraw, Dromore, Scarvagherin, Pubble, Grange, and Donaghmore.

Those of Clogher, Errigal Keerogue, Corickmore, Ballynasaggart, Dungannon, Omagh, Magheraglass, Strabane, and Trillick exist only in the records of history.

The remains of ancient castles are numerous, but few of them are of much importance: Benburb is the largest: near it are the ruins of one of the residences of Shane O'Neill; those of Newtownstewart, Dungannon, Strabane, and Ballygawley are noticed under their respective parishes.