Altar Wedge Tomb, wedge-shaped gallery grave in County Cork, Ireland

Altar Wedge Tomb is a wedge-shaped gallery grave 6.7 km west-southwest of Schull, on a cliff edge near Toormore Bay. Its trapezoidal gallery is 3.42 m long, 1.9 m wide at the west end and 1.25 m at the east, built of thin local sandstone slabs. A roof stone 2.7 m long still rests above the east end, and a second leans against the western stones.

This stone tomb was built during the Neolithic period roughly 4,000 years ago and was excavated by archaeologists in 1989. The dig uncovered cremated human remains mixed with worked flint tools, charcoal deposits, and evidence of shellfish, revealing details about the burial practices of people from that era.

During the 18th century, this tomb served as a hidden gathering place for Catholic worshippers who needed to practice their faith in secret under religious restrictions. The site became important to the community as a refuge for spiritual observance during difficult times.

Altar Wedge Tomb lies 6.7 km west-southwest of Schull, on the south side of the R591 between Schull and Goleen, close to Toormore Bay. The monument stands at a cliff edge, so approach the low stones with care and keep to the field margin. The gallery is short and the roof slabs sit low, so watch your head at the east end.

The tomb's entrance may have been intentionally aligned with Mizen Peak and positioned to allow sunlight to enter during Samhain, the Celtic New Year festival. This suggests that its builders chose this location and orientation with awareness of celestial movements and seasonal cycles important to their culture.