Inauguration site

The National Monuments Service's description

Located at the summit of and at the centre of the E-W drumlin ridge known as the Hill of Leck. The MacMahon chiefs were inaugurated at this location until the seventeenth century, and it is described on an Ulster map made in 1609 as ‘Mullagh-lest (leach?), so called of a stone there, on which McMahon is made’ (Hamilton 1912, 64-5). It is known in the folk tradition, and a sketch of a spherical stone is provided (IFC: (953) 159-60: https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes ). The stone was said to have the imprint of a foot, which the landowner obliterated in 1809, and the remains of the stone were removed after 1845 (ibid.; Shirley 1879, 71). It is described as being ‘about 12 feet by 10 feet and about 3 feet high (dims c. 3.65m x c. 3m; H 0.9m), but other measurements of ‘5 feet x 4 feet and 3 feet high (dims c. 1.5m x 1.2m; H c. 0.9m) are also recorded (IFC: (953) 212-3). The location of the ‘MacMahons Stone’ is represented on the 1834 edition of the OS 6-inch map, but it was removed later in the 19th century (Shirley 1879, 71).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revision: 22 February 2018

References

Hamilton, G. E. 1912 Miscellanea: The Ulster Inauguration Places. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 42, 64-6.

IFC Schools' MSS: Irish Folklore Commission Schools' Manuscripts. Department of Folklore. University College, Dublin.

Shirley, E.P. 1879 (Reprint 1988) The history of the county of Monaghan. London. Pickering.