Forenaughts Standing Stone and Henge. Co Kildare.

This site can be found on     http://www.megalithomania.net/show/site/1316/longstone_rath_henge.htm

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of visiting Forenaughts in Co Kildare and what a great site it is for ambiance,atmosphere and of course history. This completes my visits to the longstones of Co Kildare and it was definitely a case of saving the best wine till last. The word Forenaughts comes from the Gaelige  " Fornachta" = bare,bald or naked (hill).

Click on images to enlarge.


                                         OS Map 50. Grid Ref N 937 206.

I had tried to gain access to this site three times before with no luck. Heres a picture looking at the Longstone in the distance from the wrong way to access it, all I could do till yesterday was look at it longingly from this vantage point.

As near as I could get to it till now.



Approaching the stone by the East entrance in the henge. My first proper sight of it.



Need anything be said !



In all its glory in its magnificent setting with the henge all around it and the early evening sun in the West.

The next four pictures are different aspects of the stone........



As can be seen different from all four sides.

Now for a completely unexpected and very welcome added pleasure......




Can you see what I think I see,or do my eyes deceive me?



To me thats a spiral.....

I hadn't read of this spiral on the stone before my visit, and I'd bet my last euro that Tom Four Winds would not miss something like that, which leads me to believe that this is relatively recent....someone has probably etched it into the lichen on the stone.

Now to the henge and enclosure. The enclosure is a rough circle approx 50 / 60 metres in diameter with the stone at its center. The banks of the henge are about 3 / 4 metres high from the flat inside. From the top of the banks forming the henge to the bottom of the ditch surrounding it outside would be around 5 / 6 metres high. There are two entrances / exits one facing East and the other West. The pictures will help to explain better.




East entrance.



West entrance.



Inside bank of henge.



Bank and ditch outside.



Bank and ditch outside.



And again.



Heres a video....

I just like this shot !

Here are the other longstones in Co Kildare.




Punchestown.




Craddockstown



Baltracey.



Longstone. townland name...but sadly not standing.




Kilgowan.




Mullaghmast.