This mysterious monument, recorded in the area of Drumnahough, presents an intriguing puzzle for archaeologists and history enthusiasts alike. Whilst the first edition of the Ordnance Survey’s 6-inch map shows no marking for this ancient stone, its existence persists in local memory and archaeological records.

The stone’s documentation comes from the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled in 1983 by Brian Lacey and his team of researchers. This extensive survey catalogued field antiquities spanning from the Mesolithic Period through to the 17th century, capturing both existing monuments and those known only through historical accounts. The Drumnahough standing stone represents one of these more elusive pieces of Ireland’s prehistoric landscape; a reminder that not all ancient monuments survive the passage of time intact.

Standing stones, or galláin as they’re known in Irish, typically date from the Bronze Age and served various purposes, from territorial markers to astronomical alignments or ritual sites. The absence of the Drumnahough stone from early Ordnance Survey maps could suggest it was already lost by the mid-19th century, perhaps removed for building materials or toppled by agricultural activity. Its recorded location near the confluence of two rivers follows a pattern seen elsewhere in Ireland, where prehistoric monuments often occupy liminal spaces in the landscape, marking boundaries between land and water, or serving as waypoints along ancient routes.