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Archaeological site · Doolin, Clare
Poulnabrone Dolmen
Neolithic stone tomb, about 5,500 years old, on the top of the Burren limestone: a capstone supported on vertical stones, where remains of more than 30 people were found.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Poulnabrone Dolmen
The Poulnabrone dolmen is a portal tomb from the Neolithic period, erected between 3800 and 3200 BC on the Burren limestone plateau. It is formed by thin upright stones that support a large, sloping capstone, and the structure stands out in the flat, grey landscape around it. The Irish name, Poll na Brón, is often translated as "the hole of sorrows."
In excavations in 1986, carried out after one of the stones cracked and had to be replaced, archaeologists found the remains of more than 30 people, adults and children, buried over roughly 600 years, along with objects such as a bone pendant, stone arrowheads and pottery. Portal tombs were used by farming communities and may also have served to mark territory.
The dolmen is enclosed by a path and a protective rope, and you may not climb on or touch the stones. Around it, the limestone slabs with fissures and the Burren flowers stretch for kilometres, with loose stone walls, few trees and, at certain times, livestock grazing in winter, as is traditional in the area.
It is a short stop but one of the most photographed in Ireland, especially in the low light of morning or late afternoon. The roadside car park is small and fills up at midday when tour buses pass by.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 30 minutes.
Best time
Early in the morning or late afternoon, with low light over the limestone and fewer tour buses. From May to June, flowers tend to appear in the cracks of the surrounding rock.
How to get there
It is on the R480, between Ballyvaughan and Leamaneh, about 25 km east of Doolin and 30 km north of Ennis. There is a small roadside car park and a short path to the dolmen. There is no public transport; go by car or on a tour.
Tip
Follow the path to the end of the rope and photograph the dolmen from the side, with the sloping capstone set against the sky. Combine it with the ruins of Leamaneh Castle, 6 km to the south, which can be seen from the road.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Poulnabrone Dolmen
How old is the dólmen de Poulnabrone?
It was built between 3800 and 3200 BC, in the Neolithic, and is about 5,500 years old.
Can you touch the stones?
No. The dolmen is protected by a rope and a surrounding path, and you cannot climb on it or touch it.
What was found in the tomb?
Remains of more than 30 people, adults and children, buried over centuries, as well as a bone pendant, arrowheads and pottery.