Exploring Waterford's Ancient Monuments

The Landscape

A series of short articles highlighting regions in which Waterford's megaliths are found.

Rural Waterford

Waterford’s countryside, like many regions of Ireland, is a patchwork of green fields and hedges where dairy, tillage and cattle farming has taken place for centuries.

To the west, the fields of Waterford stretch out and then snuggle up to the slopes of the Comeragh mountains while to the east and south of the county, the gentle undulations of the landscape smoothen before sweeping down to the Celtic sea and the Waterford estuary.

Sheltered by old hawthorn hedgerows, these acres of rural tranquillity are a delight to ramble in. You can quickly leave the town or city behind and become totally immersed by the sights and smells of the land that has supported and sustained lives as far back as when the first settlers came to Ireland.

Here in lush meadows, among ploughed furrows or in warm summer cornfields are found many surviving prehistoric monuments from Ireland’s very distant past.

Of all the monuments found throughout the Waterford countryside, standing stones are the most common. A profusion of these stones is particularly prevalent in east of the county. Also deep in the countryside and sometimes in secluded locations, can be found a number of significant burial tombs along with stone pairs and rows.

All these ancient stones have been part of this rural landscape for thousands of years. Modern day farmers have always respected their presence and in many cases are proud to have an historic artefact on their land that is listed as a National Monument.

These farming folk, who quite often live down a quiet 'Boreen' (narrow lane), will invariably have a warm friendly greeting for the visitor and be more than happy to engage in a lengthy conversation. Very often they will provide you with more information about the local stone and in many cases what folklore might be attached to it.