Rock art in Derreeny

On level area (154m OD) of rough mountain pasture, within an old field system; drystone field boundary is c. 4m to W. Overlooking Kealduff river valley to S. A smooth and unfractured sandstone outcrop (2.85m ENE-WSW; 0.86m NNW-SSE; H 1.04m) which has a vertical, sub-rectangular decorated surface (dims. c. 2.05m ENE-WSW; 0.86m NNW-SSE; H 1.04m) with a SSE-facing aspect, toward Kealduff River valley. The motifs are clearly visible and concentrated toward the eastern side of the rock surface and being divided by a vertical groove (L c. 1.0m; Wth 1-1.5cm; D 3mm). There are three cupmarks (diam. 3cm; D 2mm), eleven cup-and-one ring motifs (diam. 10cm) having a cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 3mm) and ring (Wth 1.5cm; D 2mm) and a concentration of pickmarks to ENE of the vertical groove. There are three cupmarks (diam. 3-5cm; D 2-3mm), seven cup-and-one ring motifs (similar in size to the others) and one cup-and-three ring motif (diam. 24cm), having a cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 2mm) and ring (Wth 1cm; D 2-3mm), to WSW of the vertical groove. There are two outlying cupmarks and a small concentration of pickmarks at the W-end of the surface. Rock art (KE082-074001-) is c. 18m to N. This area is strewn with numerous earthfast boulders and loose rocks of varying shapes and sizes. To see a 3D model of this monument visit: https://skfb.ly/6yKvQ Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 9 March 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at Derreeny may have held ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to early farming communities or landscape marking. No specific folklore is recorded for the site.