Clochafarmore Standing Stone - Cloch an Fhir Mhóir

Clochafarmore (Irish: Cloch an Fhir Mhóir) is a menhir (standing stone) located about 1.4 km (0.87 mi) east-northeast of the village of Knockbridge (Irish: Droichead an Chnoic) which is about  5.5km south-west of Dundalk (Irish: Dún Dealgan)  on the left bank of the River Fane, County Louth, Ireland (Irish: Abhainn Átha Féan,  Contae Lú, Éire). This National Monument  is 3 m (10 ft) tall and 1.3 m (over 4 ft) wide. It is thought to date to the Bronze Age (2,400 - 500 BC). This standing stone is traditionally associated with the death of the legendary Irish hero Cúchulainn who also appears in Scottish and Manx folklore.

 

The field where it is located is locally called 'The Field of Slaughter'. Sometimes this standing stone is referred to as Cúchulainn's Stone. Irish hero Cú Chulainn (Cúchulainn) is said to be the son of Lugh, a god in Irish mythology and member of the pre-Christian Gaelic pantheon the Tuatha Dé Danann. In the Ulster Cycle, Lugh fathered Cú Chulainn with the mortal maiden Deichtine who was the sister of Conchobar mac Nessa the king of Ulster. Cúchulainn is the principal character of the epic Irish saga the Táin Bó Cuailgne (The Cattle Raid of Cooley). 

 

In this tale Cúchulainn defends Ulster from the forces of Queen Maeve of Connacht. According to legend Cúchulainn, who was fatally wounded, tied himself to this standing stone so that he could stay upright and face the opposing army. The stone had been erected to mark the grave of a past great warrior. Even after his death, Cúchulainn's enemies would not approach the stone for fear he was still alive. It was not until Morrigan (the Celtic goddess of War and Death) appeared in the form of a raven and landed on his shoulder that they were sure he was dead.

 

Image above: Cúchulainn's Death illustration by Stephen Reid 1904.

 

Image below: The Death of Cúchulainn sculpture by Oliver Sheppard 1935. GPO Building O'Connell Street, Dublin.