Leacht

The National Monuments Service's description

In the SW quadrant of a graveyard (SL040-140004-), recessed into a low E-facing slope. A low sod-covered cairn (5m N-S; 3m E-W; H 0.7m) with a roughly constructed E-facing drystone facade (H 0.8m) flanked by collapsed walls (Wth 0.6m; H 0.6m) that project to E for c. 3m. Immediately to the E of the facade is a slight depression (3.3m E-W; 3m N-S) containing a saint's stone (SL040-14008-). Along the top of the facade are eleven holy stones (SL040-140006-) and a perforated stone as well as two of the three cross-inscribed slabs (SL040-140005-; SL040-140009-; SL040-140010-) associated with the leacht. The leacht is known locally as the 'Grave of the Kings' (see photograph in Kilgannon 1926, 264) as it is said that following the battle of Ceis Corran in 971, all the chiefs were interred here. Some human bones were found underneath one of the cross-inscribed slabs (SL040-140009-), known as the 'Altar-table', during an exploration of the leacht, instigated by Terence O'Rorke prior to 1889 (O'Rorke [1889] vol. 2, 214).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005).

Date of upload: 18 January 2008