Clochafarmore, Bronze Age standing stone near Knockbridge, Ireland
Clochafarmore is a standing stone from the Bronze Age set on the bank of the River Fane in County Louth, in the northeast of Ireland. The stone rises clearly above the flat farmland around it and can be seen from a distance across the open fields.
The stone is thought to have been erected during the Bronze Age and stands about 3 metres high on the highest point of the surrounding land. It is traditionally identified as the stone to which the hero Cú Chulainn tied himself, as told in the tale Aided Chon Culainn. A bronze spearhead found in the field in the 1920s may point to an ancient battle-site. The stone is a National Monument and appears on the 1911 Ordnance Survey map.
The Irish name Cloch an Fhir Mhóir means "stone of the great man", and the field around it is called the Field of Slaughter, with the wider district known as An Breisleach Mór, "the Great Carnage". Local tradition holds that Cú Chulainn tied himself to this stone so he could die standing, and that a raven landing on his shoulder finally convinced his enemies he was dead.
The stone stands on open farmland and can be reached on foot without special equipment, though the ground can be wet or muddy depending on the season. There are no facilities on site, so wearing sturdy footwear and visiting in dry weather makes the trip more comfortable.
A bronze spearhead found near the stone in the 1920s suggested that this spot was connected to combat or ritual activity long before any written record of it existed. The find added a layer to the story of the stone that goes beyond its role as a simple marker in the landscape.
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