What is recorded here

Ritual site is a ritual site (holy or saint's stone) in Lissananny Beg, County Sligo, Ireland. In the 1940s a small crudely shaped stone with a top resembling a seat was recorded on land belonging to Mr P. Keville, and local tradition holds that St Patrick rested on it while travelling through the parish. A 1960 letter described a limestone boulder carved like an ancient Norse ship with its prow pointing South West, reputed to be where St Patrick preached to the district, but it is not clear whether this is the same stone as St Patrick's Chair.

In the 1940s a 'small crudely shaped stone the top of which resembles a seat' and which is known locally as 'St Patrick's Chair' was recorded on the on the land of Mr P. Keville; the local tradition was that St Patrick, while on a journey through the parish, rested on this stone (ITA). The exact location of this stone is not known and it is possible that it is in that part of the townland that is on OS 6-inch map 39. A letter, dated 1960, describes a 'limestone boulder carved in the shape of an ancient Norse ship with its prow pointing South West... reputed to be the place where St Patrick preached to the people of the district' (NMI). Whether this is the same stone as 'St Patrick's Chair' is not clear. 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). This record was assigned two numbers in the SMR (1989) (issued 1989), SL033-181---* and SL039-143---- where it was classed as 'Miscellaneous'. The official number for this record is SL039-143----. Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of revision: 29 March 2010

St Patrick is traditionally believed to have rested on the stone, which is associated with early Christian missionary activity in the region. The site reflects local reverence for the saint and his legendary role in converting the area to Christianity.

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