Clochafarmore

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 / 53.974505; -6.465919Coordinates: 53°58′28″N 6°27′57″W / 53.974505°N 6.465919°W / 53.974505; -6.465919
Type Standing stone
Circumference 4 m (13 ft)
Height 3 m (10 ft)
History
Material stone
Founded c. 2000–500 BC
Periods Bronze Age
Site notes
Public access yes
Designation
Designations
Official name Clochafarmore
Reference no. 474

Clochafarmore is a menhir (standing stone) and National Monument in County Louth, Ireland.[1][2][3]

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

Cúchulainn's death, illustration by Stephen Reid (1904).
Clochafarmore standing in a field.
Death of Cú Chulainn, depicted on the 1966 ten shilling coin

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 Cúchulainn. Lugaid mac Con Roí has three magical spears made, and it is prophesied that a king will fall by each of them. With the first he kills Cú Chulainn's charioteer Láeg; with the second he kills Cú Chulainn's horse, Liath Macha; with the third he hits Cú Chulainn, mortally wounding him. Cú Chulainn ties himself to a standing stone — traditionally Clochafarmore ("Stone of the Big Man"), which had been erected to mark the grave of a past great warrior.[4]

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.[5][6][7]


References

  1. ↑ McNally, Kenneth (1 January 2006). "Ireland's Ancient Stones: Megalithic Ireland Explored". Appletree – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Kerrigan, Jo (2 June 2015). "Old Ways, Old Secrets: Pagan Ireland: Myth * Landscape * Tradition". The O'Brien Press – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ "The death-place of an Irish hero".
  4. ↑ "Clochafarmore Standing Stone - Voices from the Dawn".
  5. ↑ "Cuchulainns stone".
  6. ↑ "Cúchulainn's Stone (Clochafarmore), Knockbridge. co.Louth 500 b.c > 500 a.d".
  7. ↑ "Cúchulainn's Stone - Attractions - Museums and Attractions - All Ireland - Republic of Ireland - Louth - Knockbridge - Discover Ireland".
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