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Derrynablaha : Standing Stone

CountyKerry
Grid RefV 766 775
GPSV 76644 77521 (6)
Longitude9° 47' 37.85" W
Latitude51° 56' 10.52" N
Nearest TownSneem (13.1 Km)
OS Sheet78
UTM zone29U
UTM x445424.91262251
UTM y5754246.0527886
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Visit Notes

Sunday, 16th January 2005

I was so keen about hunting for the rock art in this townland that I had forgotten that there was a standing stone marked on the OS map.

It stands atop a small round outcrop with extensive views to the east and south. To the south you can see the Dingle Penninsular with its peaks rising into the clouds across the water. It is the view to the east that is really something here and, I think, gives a real clue to the choosing of this small patch of valley as the focus of so much activity.

Due east of this area is a deep cleft between two mountains. Just in front of this is Lough Brin, a smallish body of water. This needs verfiying by observation, but I think that the Equinox sun will rise in the pass and light up the lake, forming a big expanse of gold hovering across the valley. Even if this effect does not occur the sunrise through the gap will be stunning.

The standing stone is about 1.2m tall and pointed. As if to confirm its indication of the Equinox sunrise its long axis points in that direction.

While I was wondering around the slopes nearby looking for two pieces of rock art the sun came out and a mini rainbow appeared in the field in front of me. It was just 40m across and, obviously, only 20m tall. I could see the whole thing. I felt like I could reach out and touch it. I then realised that my cameras were 100m away where I'd placed them while scrambling over rocks. By the time I'd got back to them the sun had gone in. It would have been nice to have a photo of this to share with everyone, but the experience was so fantastic that I'll remember it for the rest of my life, photos or no photos.

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Random Gazetteer

A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments

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412.3 m (WSW) there is a Rock Art at Derrynablaha known as Derrynablaha 4.
100 m (N) there is a Rock Art at Derrynablaha.
806.2 m (S) there is a Rock Art at Derrynablaha known as Derrynablaha 7.
316.2 m (ENE) there is a Rock Art at Derreeny.
316.2 m (WSW) there is a Standing Stone at Derrynablaha.

A Selection of Other Standing Stones

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