Alun Hoskins (Member no: 3173)

The Graves of the Leinstermen

Associated in Folklore with Brian Boru, who was High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014, born just over the river in what is now Killaloe, Co. Clare. Just a few km distant.

This second image - a small, single standing stone in Killaloe, Co. Clare. About 1.5 metres high, aligned East/West and on its own in the middle of a field, adjacent to Clarisford Park - which is the other side of the trees in the picture. For the most part, as far as I can tell, completely un noticed by most people. I ‘trespassed’/ventured into the field/meadow - which is never used - to get close.

I love it and acknowledge it - from a gap in those trees - every day on a dog walk. Have done so for about 8 years now.

And.. a few photos of
‘The Graves of the Leinstermen’. About 5km from my home and on the slope of Tountinna, part of the Arra mountains in North Tipperary.

A jumble of fairly unimpressive small stones - unless you’re a Stone Botherer of course, I love them & there’s definitely an energy about them - scattered amongst the Heather and some wild Bilberry bushes.

When the Heather grows you’d miss them if you weren’t looking for them but when the growth is low they’re there to see. Mostly fallen but there is one about 1 metre high.
They’re associated in Folklore with Brian Boru, who was High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014, born just over the river in what is now Killaloe, Co. Clare. Just a few km distant.

Folklore says he defeated the King of Leinster in a battle on this site and the stones mark the graves of the defeated and fallen men.

In fact the stones are thought to date from 1500 BCE and could be the remains of a Court Tomb or even a stone circle.

Research carried out in the last few years - and using modern techniques of detection - has given rise to the thought by some that this seemingly humble pile of stones could, in fact, have the potential to become a very significant, pre history site.

In my photos the main stone is only about a metre or so in height, between its 2 Rowan trees. I have felt a definite energy from it by placing my hands on it, standing very quietly and simply ‘asking’.

In a couple of the photos I have removed some power line cables - post edit - to imagine things there as they were not so long ago. The view overlooking Lough Derg to Mountshannon on the Co. Clare side of the lake.

There’s an aerial mast adjacent to this site to but it doesn’t impose on these shots.