What is recorded here

Inishcaltra is a small Clare island where St. Caimin’s graveyard still keeps a loose tapering pillar stone with five small depressions marked on one smooth face. The stone may have stood elsewhere before it leaned against the wall, but the marks suggest it was made for watching, remembering or being touched.

Lying loose against the W wall of St. Caimin’s graveyard (CL029-009012-) on Inis Cealtra. A tall, slightly tapering stone with a sloping top (L 1.12m; Wth at base 0.12m; Wth in middle 0.2m; Wth at top 0.16m; T 0.14 at base and 0.12m at the top). The lowest 0.2m is rough and may have been under ground. One face is worked smooth and flat with 5 small depressions (diam. 0.02m (smallest) to 0.04m (largest)), some circular and some oval, arranged in serpentine fashion 0.34-0.5m up from the base. No other markings are evident. The precise original location of this stone is unknown. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 17 November 2015

Likely dating to the early Christian period, the stone may have originally served as a boundary or ritual marker, possibly associated with the monastic site on Inis Cealtra. Local tradition sometimes links such stones to holy figures or as sites of pilgrimage.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.