Many other monuments in the area are of a much greater antiquity, going back about 3,000 years to the Bronze Age. Among these is the famous portal dolmen at Ballynageeragh, the cap stone of which is estimated to be three tons weight. These impressive monuments were erected to mark the burial place of some important person, probably a chieftain, or in some cases they were erected by a chieftain to the memory of his wife. The body of the dead person was cremated and the ashes placed in a small urn inside the burial chamber. A larger urn containing food, and perhaps tools and beads, was generally placed beside the smaller one, as the pagan people who built these monuments believed that the dead were going on a journey to a new life and would need these items.

There is also another dolmen on the townland of Dunhill on the Annestown road. Another example of this type of dolmen can be found at Browne's Hill near Carlow Town. A small number like this one have also been found in Scotland.

Another type of megalithic tomb in the parish, is the 'giant's grave' at Matthewstown, known locally as Leaba Thomais Mhic Caba (Thomas McCabe's Bed). It is fifteen feet long and about six feet wide. There are two rows of upright stones protruding above the ground to about three and a half feet. This grave was covered by four large stone slabs. Three of these are still in position. They measure about six feet by four feet. A large boulder was probably placed at both ends. This Kistvaen, as it called, runs East-West at its longest side and is situated in a place where a large part of the country-side can be seen as far as the Comeragh Mountains. It dates from the period 2,500 BC to 2,000 BC.

A further simpler type of ancient monument is the remarkable standing stone at Ballinaclough, probably the stone from which the townland derives its name. This type of stone is usually called a "dallán" or 'liagán' and its purpose was similar to that of the modem gravestone.

Other forms of antiquities to be found in the parish include a souterrain in the townland of Ballyscanlon. A souterrain, which may be called an artificially built cave usually consists of a narrow underground passage leading to a wider chamber or 'room'. It seems certain that these 'caves' were used as places of refuge during attack, but because the passages are so small, they were probably constructed for the children only. In some cases they seem to have been used to store valuables during periods of fighting or as underground cellars for milk or cheese or perhaps grain. The example at Ballyscanlon has not been excavated so we cannot say how extensive it is. The houses were constructed above ground inside the fort and the souterrain generally occupied only a small part of the area in the interior of the fort. Most of the known souterrains are connected with forts but every fort does not have a souterrain. Very often there are no surface indications and many of them are discovered accidentally due to collapse after ploughing or quarrying.

There were many other forts in the parish also such as this one at Ballydermody, but some have collapsed with time or have been bulldozed. Forts are the most numerous of the ancient monuments in the country and can be found in all areas except perhaps the more rugged mountain places. A fort is a space, usually circular, surrounded by a bank and fosse (or ditch). The bank was usually built by piling up inside the ditch the clay and other materials got from digging the ditch. The fort was generally built as a protection around early farmsteads. The family who lived there got some protection from the banks and fosse. Also the cattle could be brought inside the fort for safety from wolves.

A fort is also known as a lios, rath, cathair, caiseal or dun. The names lios and rath are generally used for earthen forts while stone built forts are known as cathair or caiseal. The name 'dun' is not as common as the others and generally means a large promontory fort probably the dwelling place of a chieftain. Advantage was often taken of existing duns to build castles inside them, as happened in our own parish where the castle was built inside the ancient dun from which Dun Aill derives its name. Some earthen forts were built during the Bronze Age which extended from 2,000 B.C. to 500 B.C., but many were still being built long afterwards.

The Normans introduced the motte and bailey at the end of the 12th century or beginning of the 13th century. The motte is a high flat topped mound surrounded by a ditch. Attached to this is an area or space known as the bailey. The bailey was also surrounded by a bank and ditch. On this site was the wooden castle which the Norman lord built to fortify his gains, in the area he had conquered, before the stone castles could be erected. The wooden tower on top of the motte was used as a look-out post and it also served to defend the archers. In the bailey were, presumably, the houses of the lord's servants, and also some of his cattle were brought in here for safety. Sometimes the Normans did not construct a motte but used an existing mound which may date back to a much earlier period.

Evidence of early habitation has been found in the form of some foundations of' 'clogháns' or primitive beehive-type stone houses. These have been found on the 'islands' opposite the mainland at Islandkane, as well as on the mainland itself. The innermost island is known as Oileán na gCaorach, and the other one as Oileán na bgFranncach. Up to about a century ago they were joined to the mainland. This is the only area in Waterford in which remains of the beehive type of houses have been found.

Travelling along the Ballymote Road, one might pause for a few minutes at the shrine in memory of Sean O'Rourke. On May 27th 1921, Sean, who was attached to "D" Company in the 4th Battalion, East Waterford Brigade of the l.R.A. was on duty as an outpost near the Holy Cross, Butlerstown. He was shot by two British soldiers in mufti, whom he mistook for his own men. His comrades brought him to Butlerstown Castle where he was hidden during the day. That night he died while being carried on a stretcher to another hiding place. His body was brought to Dunhill Sacristy and, at midnight, was interred by his comrades in Reisk Churchyard. After the truce of the following July, his body was re-interred in the Republican plot at Ballygunner.