Megalithic structure

The National Monuments Service's description

On a densely wooded hillside. First noted by Tighe (1802, 625) who describes it as, 'On the side of the hill of Owny, is an entire one [a cromleac], low, and filled up by loose stones'. Sandys (in Mason 1814, vol. 1, 363) gives a more detailed account, 'On the south-west of the summit of Carrick-na-Gawg, is a cromleach, . . . . This stone is 13 feet 6 inches [4.11m] in length, and 6 feet 9 inches [2.06m] in breadth, and 1 foot 9 inches [53cm] in thickness, supported by four other large stones placed upright; its elevation from the ground is about 5 feet [1.52m], and seems to have been one of that description called carns, composed of heaps of loose stones, piled together, which are so frequently found on the tops of mountains in Ireland'. Carrigan's (1905, vol. 4, 247) description of this monument is remarkably similar to that of Sandy's and he records identical measurements. Under the heading 'Cromlechs' Carrigan describes it as being 'on Corrignanaug, a considerable elevation over Owning village. The covering flag is 13 ft. 6 in. long, 6 ft. 9 in. wide, and 1 ft. 9 in. thick. It is supported, to a height of 5 ft. over the ground, by four stones standing upright, the space between them being filled up with loose stones. They call this Cluchafooka, which is locally interpreted to mean the Hawk's Stone'. Attempts to locate the monument in the 1980s/90s proved unsuccessful and it remains unlocated.

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 12 May 2021

References

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.

Tighe, W. 1802 Statistical observations relative to the County of Kilkenny. Dublin. The Dublin Society.

Mason, W.S. 1814-19 A statistical account or parochial survey of Ireland, 3 vols. Dublin. Faulkner-Press.