Matthewstown Passage Tomb


The Matthewstown Passage Tomb is a passage tomb situated in County Waterford, Ireland.

Location

The tomb is located 1.6 km north of Fenor. Most of the surrounding countryside is visible, to the Comeragh Mountains.

History

Matthewstown Passage Tomb dates to 2500–2000 BC. It is locally known as Thomas McCabe's Bed; this may have been the name of a local outlaw who supposedly spent a night here: cf. the many "Diarmuid and Gráinne's Beds"
This is one of a group of small passage tombs in County Waterford with affinities to the tombs in Cornwall and the Scilly Isles, hence the name "Scilly-Tramore group," suggesting that the builders were seafarers from Cornwall.

Description

Matthewstown Passage Tomb is 4.5 m long and about 1.8 m wide. There are two rows of five orthostats protruding above the ground to about 1 metre. This grave was covered by four large stone slabs.