Rock art in Baile An Ásaigh

In August 1982, during land development work, 2 boulders, both with cup-and-circle motifs, were discovered under about .2m of soil in a fairly level field on the E side of the valley that extends NE from Dingle Town. Both have now been placed against the S field boundary. The larger stone (KE043-226----), measuring 2.34m x 2.24m, was found decorated face upwards. Eleven cup-and-circles and one solitary cup-mark occupy less than half the upper surface, the remainder being undecorated. Some of the circles appear gapped but this may not be deliberate as the motifs are considerably weathered. The second stone (KE043-226001-), a roughly rectangular boulder, measuring .88m x .66m, was found decorated face downwards. A single motif, a cup-and-3 circles, occurs at the edge of one face; the outer circles tend towards an oval shape. To see a 3D model of this monument, visit; https://skfb.ly/6xEQU The above description is derived from J. Cuppage (compiler) 'Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey.' Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne (1986), no. 170. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 May 2013 In improved pasture (82m OD), on a WSW-facing slope. Excellent view of Dingle Harbour to SW and overlooked by higher ground WSW->W->N->E->SE including Ballysitteragh mountain to N and Sugar Loaf hill to NE. According to Cuppage (1986, 58-9), two boulders (KE043-226---- and KE043-226001-) were discovered during land development works in August 1982. They were found under c. 0.2m of soil in a fairly level field on the E side of the valley that extends NE from Dingle Town. The large stone (KE043-226----) has been located resting upon a drystone field boundary, although the small stone (KE043-226001-) could not be located along the same boundary and may not be upright. According to Cuppage (1986, 58-9), ‘a roughly rectangular boulder, measuring .88m x .66m, was found decorated face downwards’. It bears an oval-shaped cup-and-three-ring motif at the edge of one face (ibid). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 7 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the cup-and-circle rock art may have had ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to water or fertility, given their location in a valley setting. No specific folklore is recorded for this site.