The Labby Rock - one of Ireland's largest dolmens.

Click here to read about an art instillation utilizing the Labby, created by the landowner!

The Carrickglass Dolmen The Labby Rock or Carrickglass dolmen sits tucked in a shallow valley on the north end of the ridge of Moytura. The Labby is an impressively massive portal dolmen. With a capstone weighing an estimated 70 tons, it is among the largest of such monuments in Ireland. The ridge of Moytura is one of the most important mythological sites in Ireland. The Second Battle of Moytura, the centre piece of Irish mythology is set here, and most of the monuments on the ridge are associated with the Battle. The Labby is said in local lore to be the grave of Nuada and Macha, where they were interred after being slain by Balor of the Evil Eye. This monument is located on the Historical Trail walking route, and is easily accessed by following the signs and path from nearby Cromleach Lodge - a hotel which gets it's name from the Labby. Orientation Unusually for monuments in this area, thre is no view from the Labby to Knocknarea Mountain, whch is hidden by a drumlin. The dolmen is facing south-east, the direction of the winter solstice sunrise, which is the place of cosmic rebirth in ancient Irish cosmology - see Newgrange for the best known example. The entrance of the dolmen is oriented to the cairn of Shee Lugh which sits on the highest point of Moytura, though a group of trees from a nearby farm obstruct the view to the cairn. This parallels the view from the Drumadone Dolmen near Boyle, which is oriented to the cairn of Shee Gorey in the Curlew Mountains nearby. There is also no view from the dolmen to Carrowkeel, which lies just west across Lough Arrow. However, there are a number of ringforts in the fields nearby, which, though only a dozen metres higher offer amazing views of the surrounding landscape.