Grange (Newcastle By.)

Nearest town:
Kill (8km SW)
OS reference:
N996288
OS sheet:
50
Latitude:
53° 18' 0.51 N
Longitude:
6° 30' 21.23 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Grange (Newcastle By.) (Standing Stone / Menhir) by ryaner

The stone fells very embedded and said to mark a pre-christian burial in this old cemetery.

Image credit: ryaner
ryaner
ryaner Apr 30, 2021
Image of Grange (Newcastle By.) (Standing Stone / Menhir) by ryaner

‘Pagan’ stone in COI graveyard in Newcastle.

Image credit: ryaner
ryaner
ryaner Apr 30, 2021

Articles

Grange (Newcastle By.)

ryaner
ryaner May 7, 2021

How many times have I been here and failed to identify this stone? Too many, but sure what the heck? It’s a tranquil setting with a satisfyingly ancient feel about the place. That said, it’s important to say that this stone is not recognised by the SMR at archaeology.ie as ancient. It doesn’t mention it at all. However, on the tourist board outside the graveyard that records the monuments in the locality and gives a map of the area, it’s called a pagan stone and says that it maybe marks an old, pre-christian burial site. And sure what more would you need?

It’s very firmly embedded in the ground at the rear of an old chest tomb, a granite slab about 1.3 or 1.4 metres tall, aligned almost north-south on its longer axis, tapering to a point and reasonably convincing. And yet the nagging doubt is there. Does it even pre-date the adjacent tomb. The granite doesn’t look worn enough for a stone that has been erect for thousands of years. I guess the only way to be really sure is to excavate it, a prospect not too likely for the foreseeable.

Sites within 20km of Grange (Newcastle By.)

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