Leacht in Inishmurray

Located S of centre in the interior of an ecclesiastical enclosure (SL011-011001-), known as ‘The Cashel’. This well-built leacht measures 2 m east/west by 1.8 m north/south and is 0.9 m high. The base is partly formed by flat slabs, edge-set (cist-like); over these the sides are raised in small and medium flat stones, evenly coursed and generally fair-faced. On the surface is a very diverse mass of stones including: numerous undecorated beach cobbles; several cross-inscribed beach cobbles, known as the 'Clocha Breaca' or cursing stones (SL001-001015-), a group of three plano-convex stones, one having a disc-shaped ‘stopper’ which rotates in a cavity on its top; and a tall, oblong block (SL001-001016-), on a tapered foot, which also has a ‘stopper’ on top, as well as cross-inscribed sides. In addition, the fragments of a cross slab with flabellum (SL001-001018-) were recorded by Wakeman on this leacht. The above description is derived from the results of a survey of the archaeological monuments on Inishmurray undertaken in 1997-1999 and published in: Jerry O’Sullivan and Tomás Ó Carragáin 2008 Inishmurrary. Monks and pilgrims in an Atlantic landscape. Volume 1: Archaeological Survey and Excavations 1997-2000. Cork. The Collins Press. Date of upload: 16 January 2018

Leacht in Inishmurray is associated with early Christian monastic activity on the island, likely linked to Saint Colman of Inishmurray, a 7th-century abbot and scholar. The site's location within an ecclesiastical enclosure suggests its ritual or commemorative function within a religious settlement.