Clochafarmore
Cloch an Fhir Mhóir | |||||||||
 Clochafarmore pictured at night | |||||||||
  Shown within Ireland | |||||||||
| Alternative name | Cúchulainn's Stone | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Rathiddy, Knockbridge, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland | ||||||||
| Coordinates | 53°58′28″N 6°27′57″W / 53.974505°N 6.465919°W | ||||||||
| Type | Standing stone | ||||||||
| Circumference | 4 m (13 ft) | ||||||||
| Height | 3 m (10 ft) | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| Material | stone | ||||||||
| Founded | c. 2000–500 | ||||||||
| Periods | Bronze Age | ||||||||
| Site notes | |||||||||
| Public access | yes | ||||||||
| Designation |
| ||||||||
Clochafarmore (
Location
Clochafarmore is located 1.4 km (0.87 mi) east-northeast of Knockbridge, Dundalk on the left bank of the River Fane.
History and legend
The standing stone, 3 metres high, was erected at an unknown point in the distant past, believed to be during the Bronze Age.
This standing stone is traditionally associated with the death of the legendary hero
Cú Chulainn continues to fight his enemies, and it is only when a raven (the traditional form of The Morrígan) lands on his shoulder that his enemies believe he is dead. Lugaid approaches and beheads him, but as he does so the "hero-light" burns around Cú Chulainn and his sword falls from his hand and cuts Lugaid's hand off. The light disappears only after his right hand is cut off.
The region is known as An Breisleach Mór, "The Great Carnage", while the field in which this stone stands is called the Field of Slaughter. In the 1920s a bronze spearhead was found in the field, perhaps showing it to be a genuine ancient battle-site.[6][7][8]
References
- ^ "Cloch an Fhir Mhóir/Cloghafarmore". logainm.ie. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ISBN 9780862819965– via Google Books.
- ISBN 9781847177544– via Google Books.
- ^ "The death-place of an Irish hero".
- ^ "Clochafarmore Standing Stone - Voices from the Dawn".
- ^ "Cuchulainns stone".
- ^ "Cúchulainn's Stone (Clochafarmore), Knockbridge. co.Louth 500 b.c > 500 a.d".
- ^ "Cúchulainn's Stone - Attractions - Museums and Attractions - All Ireland - Republic of Ireland - Louth - Knockbridge - Discover Ireland". Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2016.