What is recorded here

Half a kilometre from Neesha, two shallow cups are cut into a rough sandstone boulder on Macklaun Mountain. They face south above the Meelagh River, small enough to hide in palm and large enough to stop a hand. The mountain keeps them under open sky, where rain and light still touch the marks made by someone who watched that same valley.

In mountain heath (268m OD), on SE-facing spur of Macklaun Mountain, overlooking valley of Meelagh River to S and SE. Excellent views of surrounding landscape, particularly along valley to Caragh Lake at NE and the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Carrauntoohill to ENE. A slightly rough and fractured sandstone boulder (dims. 3.15m ENE-WSW; 2.8m NNW-SSE; H 0.65m at NE) which is subrectangular in plan. It has a linear decorated surface (dims. 0.1m ENE-WSW; 0.8m NNW-SSE) which has a S-facing aspect. The decorated surface bears two shallow cupmarks which are conspicuous due to their size: First cupmark (dims. 4.5cm x 5cm; D 4mm) is located upon an upper ledge (long-axis ENE-WSW; H 0.1m) across northern side of stone. Second cupmark (dims. 6cm x 7cm; D 6mm) is located upon a lower portion of the stone, c. 0.65m to S. White quartz veins and pebbles form part of the stone’s surface which is quite grainy. Rock art (KE071-150----, KE071-150001- and KE071-151----) are c. 42m to SSE. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at Neesha may have held ritual or symbolic significance, possibly relating to territorial markers, celestial observations, or spiritual beliefs connected to the surrounding landscape. Its prominent location suggests it was visible to travelers and may have been part of a wider network of landscape features with cultural or ceremonial use.

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