Kildun Standing Stones

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Kildun Standing Stones
Native name
Irish: Galláin Chill Ghoin
Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Kildun Standing Stones in Ireland
Type Standing stones
LocationKildun, Ballycroy,
County Mayo, Ireland
Coordinates 53°59′19″N9°50′23″W / 53.988664°N 9.839678°W / 53.988664; -9.839678 Coordinates: 53°59′19″N9°50′23″W / 53.988664°N 9.839678°W / 53.988664; -9.839678
Elevation23 m (75 ft)
Built2000 BC?
Official name: Kildun Standing Stones
Reference no.423

Kildun Standing Stones are standing stones, forming a National Monument, located in County Mayo, Ireland. [1] [2]

Menhir Large upright standing stone

A menhir, standing stone, orthostat, or lith is a large man-made upright stone, typically dating from the European middle Bronze Age. They can be found solely as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Menhirs' size can vary considerably, but they are generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top.

County Mayo County in the Republic of Ireland

County Mayo is a county in Ireland. In the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority. The population was 130,507 at the 2016 census. The boundaries of the county, which was formed in 1585, reflect the Mac William Íochtar lordship at that time.

Republic of Ireland Country in Europe on the island of Ireland

Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a country in north-western Europe occupying 26 of 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, which is located on the eastern side of the island. Around a third of the country's population of 4.8 million people resides in the greater Dublin area. The sovereign state shares its only land border with Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom. It is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the Celtic Sea to the south, St George's Channel to the south-east, and the Irish Sea to the east. It is a unitary, parliamentary republic. The legislature, the Oireachtas, consists of a lower house, Dáil Éireann, an upper house, Seanad Éireann, and an elected President who serves as the largely ceremonial head of state, but with some important powers and duties. The head of government is the Taoiseach, who is elected by the Dáil and appointed by the President; the Taoiseach in turn appoints other government ministers.

Contents

Location

Kildun Standing Stones are located 4 km (2.5 mi) south-southwest of Ballycroy. Unusually for the area, they are on an east-facing slope and Achill Island is not visible from the site. [3]

Ballycroy, County Mayo Village in Connacht, Ireland

Ballycroy is a village in County Mayo, Connacht, Ireland. The village was the location for the 1982 film The Ballroom of Romance. The actual ballroom used in the film still exists, albeit in a derelict condition, and is located at Doona Cross, to the west of the village. Ballycroy is home to one of Ireland's National Parks, Ballycroy National Park.

Achill Island Island off the western coast of Ireland, in County Mayo

Achill Island in County Mayo is the largest of the Irish isles, and is situated off the west coast of Ireland. It has a population of 2,700. Its area is 148 km2 (57 sq mi). Achill is attached to the mainland by Michael Davitt Bridge, between the villages of Gob an Choire and Poll Raithní (Polranny). A bridge was first completed here in 1887, replaced by another structure in 1949, and subsequently replaced with the current bridge which was completed in 2008. Other centres of population include the villages of Keel, Dooagh, Dumha Éige (Dooega), Dún Ibhir (Dooniver), The Valley and Dugort. The parish's main Gaelic football pitch and secondary school are on the mainland at Poll Raithní. Early human settlements are believed to have been established on Achill around 3000 BC. A paddle dating from this period was found at the crannóg near Dookinella. The island is 87% peat bog.

History

The standing stones were erected perhaps in the Bronze Age. The "cross pillar" was later Christianised by having a cross pattée carved in a circle on the west face. [4]

Cross pattée type of cross which has arms narrow at the centre, and broader at the perimeter

A cross pattée is a type of Christian cross which has arms narrow at the centre, and often flared in a curve or straight line shape, to be broader at the perimeter. The form appears very early in medieval art, for example in a metalwork treasure binding given to Monza Cathedral by Queen Theodelinda, and the 8th century lower cover of the Lindau Gospels in the Morgan Library. An early English example from the start of the age of heraldry proper is found in the arms of Baron Berkeley.

Description

Cross pillar

This is a pillar, 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) tall, with a cross pattée in false relief carved on it, in a circular frame.

Relief Sculptural technique

Relief is a sculptural technique where the sculpted elements remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term relief is from the Latin verb relevo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane. What is actually performed when a relief is cut in from a flat surface of stone or wood is a lowering of the field, leaving the unsculpted parts seemingly raised. The technique involves considerable chiselling away of the background, which is a time-consuming exercise. On the other hand, a relief saves forming the rear of a subject, and is less fragile and more securely fixed than a sculpture in the round, especially one of a standing figure where the ankles are a potential weak point, especially in stone. In other materials such as metal, clay, plaster stucco, ceramics or papier-mâché the form can be just added to or raised from the background, and monumental bronze reliefs are made by casting.

Stone

An undecorated standing stone. [5]

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References

  1. ↑ "Antiquities". Mayolibrary.ie.
  2. ↑ "Kildun, County Mayo". Earlychristianireland.net.
  3. ↑ "KILDUN STANDING STONE/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND.COM". Megalithicmonumentsofireland.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  4. ↑ Weir, Anthony. "County Mayo - selected monuments". Irishmegaliths.org.uk.
  5. ↑ "KILDUN CROSS PILLAR/MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS OF IRELAND". Megalithicmonumentsofireland.com.
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