Standing stone in Kilballyhemikin

Situated on top of a flat knoll in undulating pastureland which slopes gently to SW with a ringfort (TN023-051) visible 87m downslope to S. The summit of the hill rises immediately N of site. An area of rock outcrop is depicted on the 2nd ed. (1904) OS 6-inch map at this location. A triangular-shaped standing stone (H 1.2m; dims. 1.09m x 0.56m) aligned NE-SW stands in a circular hollow (diam. 2.6m; D 0.18m) which has been caused by cattle. The NW and SE faces are fairly flat. Tufts of grass are growing around the base of the stone but there is no evidence of packing-stones. According to Stout (1984, 60) the site 'appears to be a scratching post of no archaeological importance', however, there is a possibility that this is an antiquity. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

Likely dating to the Bronze Age, this standing stone may have had ceremonial or territorial significance, possibly linked to the nearby ringfort. Interpretations of its meaning or use remain speculative, though it may be associated with local folklore or early agricultural activity.