EPISODE · Mar 9, 2026 · 6 MIN
The Neale’s Whispering Monuments: Pyramid, Pagan Gods and Irish Land League History
from Whispering Stones
In this episode of Whispering Stones, host Bernice Cooke explores the quiet village of The Neale in County Mayo, a place filled with extraordinary history and mysterious monuments.Just kilometres from Cong, Cross and Ballinrobe, The Neale sits on a limestone plateau surrounded by archaeological treasures including prehistoric cairns, stone circles, ringforts and crannogs. Yet it is the village’s unusual monuments that truly capture the imagination.Join Bernice as she uncovers the story of The Neale Pyramid, an 18th-century architectural folly designed by Lord Charlemont, once crowned with a statue of Apollo. Discover the Temple Monument, a Doric-columned retreat built within the old estate walls, and the mysterious carvings known as the Gods of The Neale, featuring mythical figures like a unicorn and griffin.The episode also touches on Irish mythology and history, including the legendary warrior Lugh Lámhfhada, the Land League movement, and the moment when the term “boycott” first entered the English language at nearby Lough Mask House.If you enjoy Irish history, folklore, mythology, hidden monuments and the forgotten stories of rural Ireland, this is a place where the stones truly whisper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
In this episode of Whispering Stones, host Bernice Cooke explores the quiet village of The Neale in County Mayo, a place filled with extraordinary history and mysterious monuments.Just kilometres from Cong, Cross and Ballinrobe, The Neale sits on a limestone plateau surrounded by archaeological treasures including prehistoric cairns, stone circles, ringforts and crannogs. Yet it is the village’s unusual monuments that truly capture the imagination.Join Bernice as she uncovers the story of The Neale Pyramid, an 18th-century architectural folly designed by Lord Charlemont, once crowned with a statue of Apollo. Discover the Temple Monument, a Doric-columned retreat built within the old estate walls, and the mysterious carvings known as the Gods of The Neale, featuring mythical figures like a unicorn and griffin.The episode also touches on Irish mythology and history, including the legendary warrior Lugh Lámhfhada, the Land League movement, and the moment when the term “boycott” first entered the English language at nearby Lough Mask House.If you enjoy Irish history, folklore, mythology, hidden monuments and the forgotten stories of rural Ireland, this is a place where the stones truly whisper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Neale’s Whispering Monuments: Pyramid, Pagan Gods and Irish Land League History
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