Coolcoulaghta Standing Stones

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

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

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]