Standing stone, Ballyannan, Co. Donegal
On the southwestern slope of Aghaweel Hill in County Donegal, two ancient standing stones rise from the rough, bog-grown ground.
Standing stone, Ballyannan, Co. Donegal
The eastern stone stands 0.9 metres high, whilst its western companion, leaning gently against it, reaches 1.2 metres in height. These weathered sentinels have kept their vigil here for millennia, though their original purpose remains tantalisingly unclear.
The stones appear to be part of something larger; a series of boulders and buried structures extends approximately 10 metres southwest from the main pair. About 5 metres from the standing stones, a boulder rests on the ground, followed by another 2.5 metres further along that sits atop buried stones. What might be a slab set on edge peeks through the surface nearby, with yet another boulder beside it to the west. These scattered elements could be remnants of an ancient field fence system that predates the bog’s formation, traces of which are still visible to the west of the site.
There’s another intriguing possibility, however; the arrangement might represent the remains of a megalithic structure, perhaps a tomb or ceremonial site. The combination of standing stones, boulders, and buried slabs certainly fits the pattern of such monuments found throughout Ireland. Without excavation, the true nature of this enigmatic site remains open to interpretation, leaving visitors to wonder whether they’re looking at the practical boundaries of ancient farmland or something altogether more sacred.





