What is recorded here

Stone head (present location) in Carlow is a 12th-century granite face with a hollow crown, recovered from Ballinacarrig graveyard beside a ruined medieval church. Its bulging eyes and sharp nose still look outward, while the bowl above its forehead may have spilled water like a forgotten fountain. The museum preserves that much, but the missing rear and unknown wall belong to the vanished building, leaving the head both complete and incomplete.

This granite stone head (overall dims. L 044m x Wth 0.32m; D 0.24m), currently located in Carlow County Museum, was discovered lying in Ballinacarrig graveyard (CW007-025002-) which is c. 3km SW of Carlow town. The outline of the ruined medieval church (CW007-025----) is visible within the graveyard. The head, carved in high relief, narrows towards the chin (Wth 0.05m). It has round bulging eyes, a pronounced flat nose with splays towards the end and the lips are well defined. At the top of the head there is a circular bowl (diam. 0.13m; D 0.12m) with a hole at the base and a raised rim (T 0.04m). Five vertical lines within the bowl at the top of the forehead probably represent hair. It is possible that it functioned as an ornate water spout, though it is unclear how it would have been fixed to a wall unless the stone extended further back and this portion has been broken off, though there is no obvious break. The style of the carving suggests a 12th-century date. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 23 June 2015

Dated to the Bronze Age (c. 2500–500 BCE), the stone head may have originally formed part of a megalithic monument or served a ritual or symbolic function. While its specific meaning is unclear, such carved stones are often associated with ancestor veneration or territorial markers in prehistoric Irish contexts.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.