Cloch an Phoill

Holed Stone

The Cloch an Phoill is a huge pillarstone with a circular hole pierced through centre. It is believed the stone was used as a seal or blocking stone for a megalithic tomb some four thousand years ago, and the hole was used to pass food through to the dead after the tomb had been closed. The hole is around 30 cms in diameter and as late as the eighteenth century sick children were passed through the hole as a cure for ill health.

Traditionally the stone is also associated with Niall of the Nine Hostages. Niall tied Eochaid, the son of Enna Cinnselach, to the pillar, by passing a chain through the hole. Eochaid broke the chain and killed the nine men Niall had sent to kill him.