Castlenalacht Stone Row

Castlenalacht Stone Row is an alignment of four tall and free-standing stones located on a hilltop in the townland of Castlenalacht, Innishannon parish, 6 km north of Bandon, County Cork [1]. It dates from the Bronze Age (c. 3000–4000 years ago) and is the largest of the over 80 stone rows in south-west Ireland [1]. The four Castlenalacht stones are arranged in ascending order of height across a distance of 13.4 m [1]. The site is placed on one of the area's highest hilltops; according to the archaeologist Clive Ruggles, the builders tended to favour locations where the axis, from largest to smallest stone, leads to a relatively distant horizon [1]. The precise functions of these constructions are unknown; most archaeologists assume a ceremonial or ritualistic purpose [1].