Aideen's Grave is a beautiful collapsed monolithic portal tomb located in the grounds of Howth Castle. The tomb dates to around 2,500 BC and comprises of a two portal stones around 2.5 metres in height, a collapsed doorstone, and a colossal roof-stone measuring 5 metres, by 4, and 2 metres in depth. The roof-stone still rests on the upper edge of the portals, above the collapsed chamber.
According to Irish legend Aideen was the daughter of Aenghus, the ruler of Howth (Beann Éadair) in the 3rd century, who was married to Oscar, the son of Oisín of the Fianna. Oscar was slain in the Battle of Gowra in 284AD and was entombed in a rath on the field of battle. It is said that Aideen died in grief at her loss, so Oisin buried her at Howth and set a cairn over her, a burial usually reserved for great warriors or kings.
The great Irish poet and antiquarian Samuel Ferguson wrote:
‘A clear pure air pervades the scene,
In loneliness and awe secure;
Meet spot to sepulchre a Queen
Who in her life was pure
Here, far from camp and chase removed,
Apart in Nature’s quiet room,
The music that alive she loved
Shall cheer her in the tomb’.
Aideen’s Grave – Samuel Ferguson, ca 1864
