By Dan Walsh
The Ballybrittas Dolmen Trail, located on Bree Hill was officially opened last Sunday by Cllr. John O’Rourke, Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council.
The dolmen dates from the neolithic period (4000 – 2500 BC) and is probably Wexford’s oldest standing structure.
The Tomb consists of two large portal stones and a backstone that supports a substantial roof stone. In addition, the dolmen has two side stones and a sill stone, the latter located at the tomb’s east facingentrance. Together, these elements enclose a small rectangular chamber in which burial remains would have been placed. This form of burial monument is known as a Portal Tomb.
There are only two known dolmens in the county which makes the site at Ballybrittas very rare and has the protection of the National Monuments Act.
The trail was funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) grant and by Wexford County Council. The walk is 3kms / 45 minutes to the site and starts at Bree Community Centre which has ample parking.
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