I rented a book from the library called Circles of Stone the other day. What do people think about the megaliths, their origins and uses? One theory I heard plays upon the names given to some of the megaliths like StoneHenge which comes from the old english Stenhengen. Some say that they were used as gallows, which is interesting when compared to this poem I found inside the book:

Their god was he -
That Cromm, all misty, withered, wan
Those who he ruled so fearfully,
Are dead - and whither have they gone?

To him - oh shame!
Their children, piteous babes, they slew,
Their blood they poured out in his name,
with wailing cries, and tears, and rue.

I don't know why but I like it...Its a thousand years old and the poet is unknown. I believe Cromm is the celtic Cromm Cruaich, meaning Crooked Mound or Crooked Gallows. The Gallows part is interesting since StoneHenge has the same word in it. Cromm is an ancient celtic god who was the watcher or chief of the mounds. I also found translations of his named to mean Bloody Crescent as well.

I found a few poems speaking of stone idols, from three to twelve surrounding a golden idol of Cromm.

"In a rank stand
Twelve idols of stone;
bitterly to enchant the people
The figure of Cromm was of gold.

From the reign of Heremon,
the Noble and Graceful,
Such worshipping of stones there was
Until the coming of Good Patrick of Macha."
-Mag Sleacht(The Plain of Adoration)

What are other ideas about the megaliths?