Locally called Queen Mab the Glencullen Standing Stone awaits your attention. This impressive stone is in Glencullen County Dublin. It is a national monument.
The Glencullen Standing Stone is on Barrack Road in Glencullen. It stands as a silent witness to centuries gone by. Legend says that Viking invaders used the stones in a game of rings.
This stone is made of quartz. It is believed to have been erected around 1700 BC. The Glencullen Standing Stone is also known as Queen Mab.
The Glencullen Standing Stone stands at 1.83 meters tall. It is the biggest block of quartz many have ever seen. When the sun shines the quartz radiates light.
It is thought that the Glencullen Standing Stone was part of a pair. Vikings used these stones to play a game of rings. Sadly there is no trace of the other stone today.
Standing stones were erected over thousands of years. They were part of a larger megalithic culture. This culture flourished throughout Europe and beyond. Over 10000 standing stones have been recorded in Ireland.
These stones served many purposes. They marked boundaries. Some were burial chambers. Others were used for ancient ceremonies. Some served as scratching stones for animals.
The Glencullen Standing Stone is Ireland’s only quartz standing stone. This stone is on the golf course facing Johnny Fox’s Pub in Glencullen. It is notoriously difficult to date standing stones. Beaker pottery was found buried under this stone. It dates back to 1700 BC.
Quartz was thought to have magical properties. The Glencullen Standing Stone’s color changes at sunset and sunrise. This is due to refraction in the quartz.
Imagine the hands that erected this stone so long ago. Picture the Viking games played here. Think of the ancient ceremonies performed in its presence.
The Glencullen Standing Stone links us to the past. It connects us to the myths and legends of Ireland. As you stand here feel the echoes of history.