Giant Irish Deer (Megaloceros giganteus), antlers on upper skull, right antler 6 points, left antler 8 points, right antler 123cm, right antler palmation 26cm, left antler 126cm, left antler palmation 29cm, tip to tip 154cm, broadest span 212cm, on wood shield See illustration

This is the skull and antlers of a young stag.

Ex Collection of Dublin University

This species of deer is often and erroneously described as an Irish Elk, whereas in fact its nearest relative is the Fallow Deer. This animal was not just particular to Ireland - remains have been found in Japan and China, westward through Asia and Europe. However, most have been found in Ireland, which the deer reached over a land bridge that existed between Cumberland and Ireland via the Isle of Man. It is thought that this species became extinct in Ireland about 10,750-10,250 years ago (about 2,500 years before man first came to Ireland). Giant Deer remains are found in the marls below the peat bogs.

The Giant Deer were also 2m tall at the shoulder, and could weigh up to 500kg. Like most living deer, the male and female Giant Irish Deer would have lived in separate herds for much of the year, congregating only for the autumn rut. Large antlers were used for display to both intimidate rivals and impress females, and were also used in combat.

The male deer often entered the winter undernourished and in poor condition, sheltering in such narrow steep-sided valleys as that at Ballybetagh, Co Dublin. Here several males died each year on the shores of a shallow lake where their bones would have been trampled by other deer and gnawed by animals such as the Arctic Fox before becoming buried in the lake muds. At Ballybetagh the remains of at least 120 individuals have been discovered, all of them males. The abundance of Giant Deer in Ireland compared with the rest of Europe suggests that condition there were ideal. The abundance also reflects the fact that they were bu