There are over a thousand recorded prehistoric rock art sites in Ireland (although a number of these can no longer be found, or have been re-located). The best known examples are the megalithic art of Ireland’s passage grave cemeteries, considered to be the earliest form of writing or inscription found in Ireland, which were carved by descendants of the first colonizing farmers who landed in County Sligo around 4150 BC. Far more prolific are the open-air “Atlantic rock art” sites, typically found on boulders and outcrops and dating back to the Later Neolithic / Early Bronze Age period (circa 3000-1500BC).
More information:
- National Monuments Service – Historic Environment Viewer
- The Heritage Council – Our Ancient Landscapes: Prehistoric Rock Art in Ireland [PDF]
- Carrowkeel – Irish megalithic art
- Ken Williams – Shadows and Stones – a blog combining information on prehistoric sites with spectacular photos.
The Aghacaribble boulder on the Dingle Peninsula features numerous petroglyphs, including cup marks and circle motifs.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 40
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
The Ardamore Standing Stones Outlier is a large megalith which has multiple Bronze Age rock art motifs on its north-west side.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 12
- Quality: 1/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
The Boheh Stone, a Neolithic monument in Ireland, features 250 petroglyphs and aligns with celestial events, particularly solstices, suggesting its significance to early agricultural societies.
- County Mayo, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 250
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch (top)
First documented in the 1860s, the Clonfinlough Stone in County Offaly is a large limestone boulder with a variety of motifs. These include unusual phi figures, which may date back to prehistoric times or the 13-14th century Christian era.
- County Offaly, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 40
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
A boulder with rock art near Lake Coomasaharn which has a cup with two rings and three small cup motifs.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 2.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
The Corr Aille Spiral is a Bronze Age rock art site along a pre-Christian pilgrimage route on the Dingle peninsula. It has a single spiral or "cup and ring" motif.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
The Coumeenoole Ogham Stone, discovered in 1838 on Dingle Peninsula, dates to the sixth century. It commemorates Erc and is accessible via a short hike from the Slea Head carpark.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
The Derrynablaha 15 boulder has eight cup-and-ring motifs; it's one of the easier-to-reach rock art sites in the Derrynablaha area.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 10
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
The Derreeny (311) rock art in the Derrynablaha area features two cup-and-rings and a faint radial line.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 2.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
The Derreeny (321) boulder in the Derrynablaha area contains rock art which includes 31 cupmarks and several cup-and-ring motifs.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 35
- Quality: 2.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
A Bronze Age artifact, the Killelton Stone has 45 cupmarks. It was re-located to its current position in 1997.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 45
- Condition of art: Good, Re-located
Withiin the fenced grounds of Loher Cashel is a small rock which has cup-and-ring motifs and cupmarks.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 4
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good
The Lugnagappul Ogham Stones on the Dingle Peninsula, believed to mark warrior graves, feature two inscriptions which date back to 500-600 AD.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
A long boulder in a Milltown field near Dingle features Bronze Age rock art with numerous cup-marks and cup-and-circle motifs.
- County Kerry, Ireland
- Number of motifs: 22
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
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