Archaeologists are excavating what is believed to be an ancient passage tomb to the rear of the ruins of the Hellfire Club in the Dublin Mountains.

The project, which is running throughout October, has uncovered the remains of the stone cairn that once formed the main mound of the tomb.

The team has also found a range of materials, including flint from people making stone tools over 5,000 years ago, along with charcoal and some tiny fragments of burnt bone.

The Hellfire Club was built as a shooting lodge for politician William Conolly in 1725.

To build the lodge, his workmen destroyed two large tombs and utilised their stone as building material.

The destruction of the tombs is said to mark the beginning of the association of the building with the supernatural.

In 1735 the lodge was leased to one of the leading figures in what was known as Dublin's Hellfire Club, a group of aristocrats, described at the time by Jonathan Swift as "a brace of Monsters, Blasphemers and Bacchanalians".

Stories of debauchery and dark deeds at the Hellfire Club have been passed down through the generations ever since.

The project, which is supported by South Dublin County Council and Coillte, is being led by Neil Jackman of Abarta Heritage.

"It's the perfect balance really. You have this rare opportunity to excavate a passage tomb - I think the last one to be excavated was over 20 years ago now - but it's also associated with the Hellfire Club which has so many incredible stories about it," Mr Jackman added.





