The late Mr. David O’Dowd of Fallduff Lodge, Louisburgh, pictured in 1994 at Devlin South wedge tomb, a monument he discovered while on a field-trip . David was a member of the Mayo Historical & Archaeological Society and was keenly interested in history, archaeology, and the study of the Irish language.

David O'Dowd at Devlin South Wedge Tomb.

Wedge tombs, the most widespread of the megalithic tombs, derive their name from the method employed in their construction . They are higher and wider in the front and the chamber gets lower and narrower (wedge shaped) towards the back. The tomb would have been covered with a cairn of stones. Wedge tombs were in use from the late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age c. 2000 - 1500 B.C. Finds in this type of monument include, stone implements, pieces of pottery and glass beads.

Suggested further reading : - “Early Ireland, an Introduction to Irish Prehistory“. M.J. O’Kelly, pp. 115 - 122. Publ. 1988. Cambridge University Press.

Mayo Historical & Archaeological Society