What is recorded here

Standing stone in Knockbeg West is a standing stone in Knockbeg West, County Sligo, Ireland. It measured 2.7 metres long, 0.5 metre wide and 0.5 metre thick when prostrate against the internal northern bank face of the rath. Local information says it had formerly stood upright inside the rath, and it was later re-erected on that northern bank to stand 2 metres above ground before the rath was levelled in 2007 and the stone became part of a field boundary.

In the interior of a rath (SL026-051001-). Described during a previous site inspection in 1992 as a prostrate stone (L 2.7m; Wth 0.5m; T 0.5m) lying against the internal bank face at N, which according to local information, had formerly stood upright in the interior of the rath (SMR (1989) file). The stone was subsequently re-erected on the bank at N where it stood to a height of 2m above ground level. The rath was levelled in July/August 2007 and the stone, now prostrate, has been incorporated into a field boundary. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). In this instance the entry has been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of upload/revision: 16 August 2007

Probably dates to the early medieval period, given its association with a rath. Its original purpose may have been ritual or commemorative, though specific folklore or use is not recorded.

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