Standing stone

The National Monuments Service's description

Unable to locate stone known locally as 'Barna Liaga stone'. Local information indicated that it was a large stone lying flat on the ground. They never remembered it standing erect. In the area where the stone is located there was a lot of field clearance in the ditch. The stone may have been removed during such field clearance. Described by Stanley (1870-1, 27-9) as the 'Barna Liaga' stone which was once erect and measured 6ft by 6ft and 3ft thick.

Thlmas Stanley recorded in the nineteenth century that 'The stone 'Barna Liaga' is on the edge of a forgotten road, and it is about midway between the castle of Ballycowen and the castle upon Counsellor Molloys farm in Ballykilmurry. Betty Larkin told me she remembered to sit on its top before it was turned on its side. It is a sandstone. The upper surface measures nigh six feet every way, and it is about half that measure in thickness' (JRSAI 187-1, 28).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 23 May 2011