This decorated stone at Balleeghan Upper was discovered quite by chance when the local landowner was carrying out land reclamation works in his field. It turned out to be one of three decorated rocks in the immediate area; whilst two have since been relocated, this particular example remains exactly where ancient hands carved it thousands of years ago.

The rock itself is a natural outcrop with a distinctive whaleback shape, measuring 3.6 metres long and rising 1.2 metres from the ground, with its ridge running north to south. The western face bears an intricate collection of cup and ring markings, though time and the elements have taken their toll on many of the symbols, which are now partially obscured by moss and lichen. The most striking features are two exceptionally well preserved cup marks, each surrounded by C-shaped rings about 7 centimetres across, with distinctive vertical lines or ‘tails’ extending downward from gaps in the outer rings. These sit alongside the ghostly remains of at least three larger, more complex designs that appear to have multiple concentric rings, with one cup mark possibly enclosed by three rings.

Running just below the ridge at the top of the outcrop, a line of at least sixteen shallow cup marks without rings suggests this stone held particular significance for the people who created these enigmatic symbols. The poorly drained land around the rock may have helped preserve it over the millennia, though it makes for challenging viewing conditions today. This combination of clear and faded carvings offers a fascinating glimpse into how these mysterious artworks have weathered the centuries in the Irish landscape.