Kilnasaggart Pillar Stone – Newry and Mourne, Northern Ireland - Atlas Obscura

Kilnasaggart Pillar Stone

Newry and Mourne, Northern Ireland

The inscribed stone at Kilnasaggart is a remnant from nearly a millennium ago. 

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Inscribed with various Ogham and Gaelic texts, symbols and crosses, the Kilnasaggart inscribed pillar stone is an intriguing monument from another time.

Thought to be a lone remnant of an ancient monastery or other structure, scholars have concluded that the inscribed pillar stone marks the location of a holy site, perhaps dating back to the days of druid and pagan worship.

The stone is clearly meant to carry significance and mark a location central to the spiritual lives of the local inhabitants, but its strange location leaves some observers puzzled. It stands alone in a field not far from Kilnasaggart Bridge, with little else of significance nearby. Although it’s not unusual for only small parts of a structure to remain, it’s possible that the pillar was placed in a remote location on purpose, to mark a place to commune with nature.

Know Before You Go

Locate the stone in the field adjacent to the Kilnasaggart Bridge, with signs directing the way. Cross over the gate via the stone steps and walk to the 3rd field (crossing the next 2 gates in the same way) to where the stone located.

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January 7, 2012

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