What is recorded here

Ancient Stone (Site of) marked a small ring on Fall Crom, where a branch of Ó Mórdha of Laois may have performed inauguration rites after migrating during the seventeenth century. Two upright stones still stood in the hedge when described in 1941, but even those have vanished, leaving only ordinary field stones in the bank to pretend memory. The hill keeps its secret crest while the stones rejoin the earth, refusing to be owned or explained.

Located at the crest of the S-facing slope of a hill that is known as Fall Crom. The hill is thought to have been an inauguration site of a branch of Ó Mórdha of Laois (Moore) who migrated here during the seventeenth century (Moore 2014). The stone is represented only on the 1907 edition of the OS 6-inch map as ‘Ancient Stone (Site of)’. It was described in 1941 (SMR file) as ‘two upright stones 3 feet high (c. 0.9m) remain in the hedge. Two or three others were removed some time ago….. The stones apparently formed a small ring.’ No stones are present now, although a lot of field stones are in the field bank just to the N. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 17 January 2018

Likely dating to the early modern period, the stone may be associated with the Ó Mórdha (Moore) clan's inauguration traditions, reflecting continuity of ritual practice in a newly settled landscape. Local folklore may have preserved elements of its ceremonial use despite later historical changes.

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