Standing stone in Ballybritt

On a natural rise overlooking river to the N, with church (OF043-005----) to the SW and Tower house (OF043-007----) to the NW. Sub-rectangular conglomerate (H 1.4m; 1m x. 0.9m) aligned on a N/S axis. Cist burial discovered 0.7m to the NE of the standing stone in the 1900's (Gilling 1938 vol. 8, 161). Archaeological test trenching of the footprint for a house 60m from the standing stone was carried out by Chris Read under licence no. 00E0746. No archaeological material was uncovered during testing. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

Probably dates to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, given the presence of a cist burial and its positioning on a prominent natural rise. The alignment and location suggest it may have had ritual or funerary significance, possibly linked to early burial practices or territorial markers.