rathcroghan and glenballythomas earthworks

This place is tentatively acclaimed to have been the inauguration place of the Kings of Connacht. The site covers an area of about 2 square miles, and consists of a great number of earthworks of different kinds, varying from a large mound (possibly a Passage-tomb which, like the Mound of the Hostages at Tara, C. Meath (q.v.), is much older than the royal site) to square, round, oblong and irregularly shaped enclosures. One of these is called the Cemetery of the Kings, and there is also a 7-foot high standing stone said to mark the grave of King Dathi, the last pagan king of Ireland who was killed by lightening in the Alps.

The stone is situated in the middle of a ringfort. Not too far from the cross-roads in various directions are a number of ringforts. To the south of the main group of monuments, and also spread over a wide area, are a number of degenerate megalithic tombs.