Annaghmare Court Tomb, also known as The Black Castle,[3] is a chamber tomb located near to the town of Crossmaglen in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.[2][4] It is one of many megalithic tombs on the island of Ireland.

Annaghmare Court Tomb
Native name
Irish: Achadh na Marbh[1]
The Black Castle
Typecourt cairn
LocationAnnaghmare, Crossmaglen, Newry, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, BT35 9BJ[2]
Coordinates54°06′06″N 6°37′02″W / 54.10179°N 6.61723°W / 54.10179; -6.61723
Height1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Annaghmare Court Tomb is located in Northern Ireland
Annaghmare Court Tomb
Location of Annaghmare Court Tomb in Northern Ireland

Location edit

 
Visitors car parking available at the tomb

Annaghmare Court Tomb is situated 1.73 miles (2.78 km) north-west of the town of Crossmaglen.

History edit

 
Information panel onsite

The site was excavated in 1963–4, with many of its features preserved in situ.[2] It is thus regarded as "one of the best preserved examples of its type",[2] as other court tombs in Ireland were damaged during the course of their excavations.

Description edit

The forecourt of the tomb is horse-shoe shapes and features several large stones up to 1.9m high.[2] The spaces between were filled with dry stone walling.[2]

The tourist information website visitmournemountains.co.uk notes that the "most unusual feature of the forecourt, however, is a small standing stone to the south-east of the centre".[2]

There is an information board onsite.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Achadh an Marbh/Annaghmare Court Tomb. Annaghmare TD, Crossmaglen". geograph.ie. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Annaghmare Court Tomb". visitmournemountains.co.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Monitoring Report No. 15. ANNAGHMARE COURT TOMB (THE BLACK CASTLE). ANNAGHMARE. COUNTY ARMAGH. AE/04/144. NICHOLAS BEER" (PDF). qub.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Annaghmare Court Tomb". discovernorthernireland.com. Retrieved 5 October 2023.