Standing stone, Kinnoghty, Co. Donegal
Co. Donegal |
Stone Monuments
In the fair pastures just north of where Loughros Beg inlet meets the land, two weathered stones stand at right angles to each other, creating an unusual monument in the Donegal countryside.
The primary standing stone rises 1.35 metres from the ground, with dimensions of 1.08 metres wide and 0.35 metres thick at its base. Its companion stone, slightly smaller at 0.8 metres high, 0.82 metres wide and 0.14 metres thick, sits perpendicular to the first, leading some archaeologists to speculate that they may once have been a single monument; perhaps the original stone broke at some point in antiquity and the fallen portion was re-erected beside its stump.
Local tradition adds intriguing layers to the stones' history. According to historian Fagan's records, the southern face of one stone was said to bear a cross, though this marking is no longer clearly visible. The stones were also reportedly part of the Tober Connell stations, suggesting they may have served as waymarkers or prayer stops along an old pilgrimage route through the area.
These standing stones at Kinnoghty represent just one small piece of Donegal's rich archaeological tapestry, which spans from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century. Whether they served as ancient boundary markers, ceremonial sites, or later Christian monuments, their presence in this coastal landscape continues to intrigue visitors and researchers alike, standing as silent witnesses to millennia of human activity in this corner of northwest Ireland.