Coolcoulaghta Standing Stones

Coolcoulaghta Standing Stone
Native name Galláin Chuar Chuallachta (Irish)
Location of Coolcoulaghta Standing Stone in Ireland
Type	Standing stones (stone row)
Location	Coolcoulaghta, Durrus, County Cork, Ireland
Coordinates	51.596667°N 9.543333°W / 51.596667; -9.543333
Elevation	109 m (358 ft)
Height	1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
Built	2200–600 BC
Owner	Office of Public Works
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Coolcoulaghta
Reference no.	565

The Coolcoulaghta Standing Stones are a pair of standing stones forming a stone row and National Monument located in County Cork, Ireland.^[1][2]

Location

Coolcoulaghta Standing Stones stand in a field 3.2 km (2.0 mi) southwest of Durrus.

History

The stones probably date to the Bronze Age period. It points towards Dunbeacon stone circle 400 m (¼ mile) to the west and the stones may have been used for astronomical observation.^[3][4]

They were removed in 1980 but the stones were replaced in 1983 by the Office of Public Works, after local outcry, using a plan and elevation made in 1977 by archaeologists of Ordnance Survey Ireland.^{[citation needed]}

The purpose of standing stones is unclear; they may have served as boundary markers, ritual or ceremonial sites, burial sites or astrological alignments.^[5]

Description

The stones are both about 1.8 m (6 ft) tall.^[6]

A third stone once stood 63 m (70 yd) SSW of the pair; this has since been removed.^[7]

References

1. "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Celtic studies, history, linguistics and literature". The Academy. 1 January 1988 – via Google Books.
2. Riordain, Sean P. O. (30 October 2014). Antiquities of the Irish Countryside. Routledge. ISBN 9781317600596 – via Google Books.
3. "Ireland 2. The standing stones of Coolcoulaghta and Dunbeacon stone circle, prehistoric sites south of Durrus near Bantry".
4. Ireland, Royal Society of Antiquaries of (1 January 1995). "Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland" – via Google Books.
5. Ryan, Áine. "CULTURE Legacy of Lankill". The Mayo News. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
6. The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map. "Coolcoulaghta".
7. Wilson, Mike. "Coolcoulaghta Stone Pair ~ mega-what.com Ancient Sacred Places".