hurlstone standing stone

While standing stones are among the commonest field monuments in Ireland, stones that are holed in this fashion are quite rare. In the Tain Bo Cuailnge a story is told of Cethern , half out of his wits with pain. His enemies dressed the standing stone with King Ailill's golden shawl, and Cethern, believing it to be the king, rushed at it and drove his sword through it with such ferocity that the sword's pommel and Cethern's fist also went through the stone. The hole is significant in that in ancient times it was used for the taking of oaths.