Rock art in Derreeny

In upland heath pasture, on a S-facing slope (172m OD), overlooking Kealduff River valley to S and Ballaghbeama Gap to NW. Incorporated into E-side of field boundary (long axis NW-SE), a smooth and fractured, substantial sandstone rock outcrop (dims. c. 2.6m N-S; 3.4m E-W; max. H 0.5m) which has a sub-rectangular decorated surface (dims. 1m N-S; 2.2m E-W) with a S-facing aspect. The decorated surface is to the N-side of a natural fracture (long-axis E-W) and consists of thirteen cupmarks (diam. c. 4-5cm; D 5-7mm) of varying sizes; five cup-and-one ring (diam. 13-15cm) with cupmark (diam. 6-8cm; D 5-6mm) and ring (Wth 1.5cm; D 4mm) one of which may have a partial second ring. There is a cluster of three cupmarks enclosed by a partial ring NE->S->NW, which is completed by pickmarks NW->N->NE. There is a linear groove (L 0.88m N-S; Wth 3cm) defined by pickmarks, off-centre to W, which has a cupmark (diam. 4cm) at the N-end. An L-shaped linear groove also defined by pickmarks is adjacent to W. Finlay (1973) recorded seventeen cupmarks and one cup-and-three ring, however only thirteen cupmarks were visible and the cup-and-three ring was not seen. There is a heavy sod cover on SW-side and furze bushes to SE-side of stone which may cover potential rock art motifs. (O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, 87, no. 285;  Finlay 1973). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 8 March 2017