Cullamore Court Tomb

Cullamore Court Tomb, also known as the “Giant’s Grave”, is a Neolithic court tomb. It is characterized by a semi-circular court leading to two burial chambers.
This is a court tomb with a semi-circular ‘court’ and two chambers. Was thought to have been built in the Neolithic Period approximately 5000-6000 years ago.

Part of the Ancient Pilgrim Route Clones – Clogher

Set high on a rocky ridge near the summit of Cullamore Hill, this monument is a court tomb–a type of early Neolithic burial place dating to around 6,000 years ago. Like many court tombs, its forecourt faces south-east, aligned towards the rising sun.

Although the end of the burial gallery is difficult to trace today, its layout suggests at least one and possibly two, burial chambers. A kerb of stones may once have enclosed the rear of the monument, and there is evidence of an additional structure behind the back stone suggesting it may have been a double court tomb.

The tomb was excavated in the 19^th century by Reverend J. Rapmond, who uncovered an uncremated human skeleton–likely a later burial added long after the tomb’s original use. A separate stone cist to the east shows that this hillside continued to be a place of burial in later prehistory.

Cullamore is a Scheduled Monument, legally protected for its national archaeological importance. It forms part of a wider prehistoric landscape that includes other court tombs such as the example at nearby Derrydrummond.

Local Folklore has it that the Gaint at Cullamore was having a party and, consequently he ran out of butter. So, he called over to the Gaint at Knockmany to ask “for the loan of some butter.”
The Knockmany Gaint threw a lump of butter, which did not reach the lenght of Cullamore but landed halfway resting in the townland of Ballynagurragh.
The lump of butter can be seen to this day, althought it has hardened over the years and turned to stone.

The court tomb was excavated in the late 1890s by Rev. Rapmond who discovered as uncremated human skeleton.

Clogher Community Village Forum  received funding from Historic Environment Fund (HEF) Research Stream 2025/26 to install new signs at Cullamore Court Tomb..

Images: Sean McCaughey