Welcome to The Standing Stone...

The Long Stone, Co. Kildare.

Ireland has a rich and varied history, and this can be seen scattered across the land today. Every county has hundreds, if not thousands of places that point to its past. From ancient Neolithic tombs to modern fortified houses The Standing Stone brings you a closer look at the history that sits all around us. 

For over 12 years we have travelled around Ireland to look at these historical sites, and present them to you here. There are over four-hundred places listed on The Standing Stone, and more being uploaded regularly. 

In addition to our own posts we have several guest posts from a variety of archaeologists, historians, and professionals involved in Irish history and archaeology. There are also book reviews, and an extensive glossary. 

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Tower House, Lemanaghan, Co. Offaly.

Location: On the R436 between Ferbane and Ballycumber, behind the old schoolhouse in a field on private land.

OS: N 17076 27036

Longitude: -7.7446267

Latitude: 53.293581

Description and History: There isn’t much left of this tower house, beyond the stub of a corner, but it speaks volumes to the lasting importance of Lemanaghan that it attracted the construction of such a building in the later medieval period. Known as MacCoghlan tower it was likely constructed in the later 15th or early 16th century but was largely demolished in 1959 leaving only one small corner. Old photographs do give us some information that it was at least three storeys high with a spiral staircase, and mural passages throughout. A Sheela-na-gig was reported and recorded here in 1870, by Thomas Cooke, but his original drawings have now been lost. It is shame that such an important part of the later history of Lemanaghan has been lost so recently.

Difficulty: It’s on private land, so permission is necessary. 

Date of Visit: 1st May, 2026.

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Togher, Lemanaghan, Co. Offaly.

Location: Close to the R436 between Ferbane and Ballycumber. It is close to St. Manchán’s Church and the entrance to the togher can be found next to the graveyard down the Offaly Way road which turns off from the R436. The co-ordinates are for where the togher begins.

OS: N 17188 26946

Longitude: -7.7429506

Latitude: 53.292772

Description and History: This togher, or road, is likely to be the oldest part of the site possibly dating as far back as the 6th century which would connect it back to the original foundation. The surviving roadway runs for about 250m and is 3m wide and connects St. Manchán’s Church to St. Mella’s Cell. It is paved with large flat stones made of standstone that was laid over brushwood and gravel. Walking down this togher was an extremely special experience as you are walking down a road that people have been using for well over a thousand years. For me this was the highlight of the site. 

Difficulty: It’s a nice walk, but uneven underfoot. 

Date of Visit: 1st May, 2026.

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St. Manchán’s Shrine, Boher, Co. Offaly.

Location: This is not located at the main site at Lemanaghan but is a short distance away in Boher Roman Catholic Church on the L7001.

OS: N 18148 30500

Longitude: -7.7283561

Latitude: 53.324675

Description and History: This has long been on my list of places to visit, and I finally managed to make the trip out to see it, and it was completely worth it. It is one of the finest pieces of art and craftsmanship to come out of medieval Ireland and the fact that it is still in the vicinity of where it has been for centuries is nothing short of a miracle. It feels like it should be in the National Museum, but it is fantastic that it has remained near Lemanaghan. It is securely held in the Boher Roman Catholic Church, safely in a secure case as it has been stolen before. 

The shrine is 12th century in date and was likely commissioned around 1130 as it bears striking similarities to the Cross of Cong which was commissioned c.1123. These similarities suggest that it was produced in the same workshop as the Cross of Cong which was in Roscommon under the goldsmith Máel Ísu mac Bratáin Uí Echach, although it has also been suggested that it was produced at Clonmacnoise, but the former seems more likely. Like the Cross of Cong it may have been commissioned by the High King, Turlough O’Connor. It was housed at Lemanaghan, possibly in St. Manchán’s Church, or in the smaller ruined building next door. It remained here until at least 1631, but was definitely removed by 1641 when the site was destroyed during the Irish Confederate Wars. It was then taken to Galway and housed in Kilcogan Castle for a time, before returning to Lemanaghan, and being given the Mooney family of Doon for safekeeping. It remained with that family for some time and in 1821 George Petrie brought it to wider public knowledge, but the shrine remained within the local community. It was sent to the British Museum in the 1930s to be cleaned before being returned. 

The shrine is in a house design with a yew tree core with cast bronze feet, silver plates with gilt, cast copper alloy and bronze decorations with enamel inlay. It was made to house the reputed bones of St. Manchán and there are still bones inside. The decoration is a combination of insular Irish designs, Hiberno-Urnes, and Romanesque. The two larger faces are dominated by large crosses with five bosses on each. Originally 50 figures adorned the shrine, but only 11 survive. Each figure is different and they are thought to represent apostles and saints. All surviving figures are male, and it is unknown if any of the figures were female. Large rings at the base of the shrine would have been used to attach poles for the shrine to be used in processions. 

The church that it is housed in is also of note, particularly for its Harry Clarke stained glass windows. For anyone who loves medieval art this shrine will undoubtedly be a highlight. It is somewhere that I will definitely return to as I feel it will become more fascinating with each visit. It is so intricate that it warrants more time to study. 

Difficulty: Very easy to get to as it’s in a modern church. 

Date of Visit: 1st May, 2026.

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The wonderful Harry Clarke windows that even inorporate the shrine.

Boher Church.