Stone row

The National Monuments Service's description

This four-stone row is located on the peat-covered saddle of the E spur of Bolus mountain, on the NW side of Ballinskelligs Bay, from where it commands an extensive outlook. It is 5.1m long and is orientated ENE-WSW; the four stones are of rectangular elevation and are incorporated into an old field wall. The tallest stone stands at ENE and is 2.46m high, measuring .95m x .45m at base. It stands .7m from the second stone, which measures 1.15m x .45m x .36m. The third stone is .85m to WSW, and measures 1.6m x .5m x .4m. Some 1.2m further to WSW is the smallest stone in the row, measuring 1.1m x .45m x .32m (Ó Nualláin 1988, 239).
Analysing the significance of this row's orientation, Lynch concluded that it was aligned to E on the N limit of the major lunar standstill (1981b, 26). The monument is reputed to mark the burial place of Erannan, one of the Milesian invaders who landed in Ballinskelligs Bay (Barrington 1976, 284).

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 114. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 28 July 2013