Vicarstown / Baile an Bhiocáire

Cross-inscribed stone and Leacht

Vicarstown, Dunquin, Dún Chaoin in Irish, is best known as the birthplace of Irish author and seanchaí Peig Sayers, who will be forever associated with the Blasket Islands. The stunning pier at Dunquin, is the gateway to the islands. In the background, top left in the image below, we can see one of the islands, Inishtooskert-Inis Tuaisceart, AKA An Fear Marbh-the Dead Man. Dunquin Civil Parish consists of about 25 townlands, they are littered with many sites and monuments from the Early medieval Period, AKA the Early Christian Period, they include the ogham stone at Coumeenoole North, St Gobnait's holy well at Ferriters-Quarter, all the clochauns in Coumeenoole South as well as the remains of the small Early Christian site at Vicarstown.

The site is described as a Calluragh or Childrens burial ground. Within the circular grounds are two stones standing on a low mound, possibly the remains of a leacht. The stone at the north-west is only 0.45m high, the south-east stone is much taller it stands 1.25m high and .25m and is decorated on both faces. The east face bears a simple cross with slightly expanded terminals and the west face is inscribed with faint linear markings. There was another cross-inscribed stone present at the site, it lay loose beside the tallest stone, but is no longer present. It was a roughly circular stone with a Maltese cross inscribed within a circle.