Owenea Standing Stone — Ardara

A standing stone 2.95m in height, rectangular in plan 1.35m × 0.78m, orientated N-S. The stone is located on flat pasture land to the S of the Owenea river. Described by Dr. Pococke in 1752 as 'a bridge over the river Oneck [Owenea], where there is a stone set up an end nine feet [2.95m] high, four [1.2m] broad and three [0.91m] thick, they call it Fin McCoues shoulder stone, with which he used to divert himself by throwing it like a Quoit' (Stokes 1891, 67-8). Trial-trenching was carried out by Anne Carey under licence No. 07E0195 on the outskirts of the village of Ardara on 24 February 2007, in advance of a proposed housing development. Six trial-trenches were excavated at the site (NGR 163680/391970) and nothing of archaeological significance was recovered (Bennett 2010, 75). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 15 November 2011