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county list
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| Court-tombs = Portal-tombs = Wedge-tombs = Passage-tombs = Stone Circles | France | |
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SELECTED MONUMENTS IN
part two
Place-names in italics refer to listed entries.
Glantane East: Wedge-tomb and Stone Circles
6.4 km S by E of Millstreet, visible to the W of a byroad running N and skirting a forestry plantation, this neat little wedge-tomb (known locally as "The Flags") stands 90 cm high in a field, and has a capstone 2.4 metres square, resting on two sidestones and a back-stone. Some of the double-walling survives, and a small stone 40 cm high stands between the two side-stones.
~ In the next field to the NW is a stone circle almost 5 metres in diameter, five of whose stones are still standing and six have fallen, some into the surrounding ditch, part of which at least is faced with stone. There are two outliers. In the middle of the circle is a large hole, where presumably a boulder or boulder-burial stood
~ 400 metres SSW, W of the lower road, beside a derelict (maybe now rebuilt) house, up a grassy lane bounded on the N side of spruce-trees, and itself surrounded by trees, in the same townland (W 280 833) is an axial stone circle, 4.7 metres in diameter, of ten stones and a loose flagstone lying beyond the axial stone. The portals opposite the axial are 81 cm high.
~ On the opposite side of the lower road, some 800 metres SSW of the wedge-tomb is an alignment of three stones, one being 2.4 metres high and the other two (broken) surviving to a height of 90 cm.
~ 3.2 km NNE is a five-stone circle with outliers and a cairn (similar to the Kealkil complex) at Knocknakilla (W 297 841). It has good portal-stones. One of the outliers (over 4 metres long) to the SW of the circle has fallen, but the farther one, though leaning, stands 4 metres high. ~ Just over 1 km SE is a five-stone circle at Carriganimmy (W 293 827). ~ 4 km S are Cabragh stone-rows and five-stone circle (W 278 798).
Gowlane North: Stone Circle
1.7 km S by W of Beenalaght alignment and 3.2 km N of Donoughmore, 400 metres W of the road and at the bottom of the second field NW from a pair of field gates is a perfect circle, 7 metres in diameter. It comprises eight stones (two fallen) averaging one metre in height, two of which, only 90 cm apart, form an entrance to the N with another pair set radially outside the circle, slightly farther apart. This entrance passage, 2.1 metres long, faces a large axial stone: a rectangular slab 150 by 90 cm on the opposite side of the circle.
Greenhill: Ogam Stones
8 km SSE of Mallow, and about 300 metres S of a by-road, by a hedge on the W side of a field is a large fragment of an irregular block on which the clear inscription CATTUBUTTAS MAQ. . . survives. About 40 metres further, on the other side of the hedge and bank is a fine, large, tapering stone 2.4 metres high, on which is the inscription TRENU MAQI MUCOI QRITTI , together with deep grooves above and below the N, and other grooves made recently by vandals. Quartz pebbles abound nearby. ~ In the middle of a field about 200 metres E of the second stone is a fine standing stone 1.8 metres high, with a remarkably smooth E face. ~ 5.6 km SW, 9.6 km S by W of Mallow, almost opposite the ruins of a church, and about 10 metres N of a by-road, in Kilquhane , is a holed stone, now prostrate, 1.80 metres long, 70 cm wide and 25 cm on its thick side. Near the thin edge of the stone, 73 cm from the near end and 56 cm from the thick edge, is an irregular hole from 6.2 to 11.3 cm across, and of a depth varying from 5 to 19 cm. This stone, known as "The Sinners' Stone" (Cloch na pecaib), was resorted to by pregnant women, who pulled pieces of cloth through the hole to ensure easy (or at least safe) delivery. ~ Another holed stone is at Lackendarragh, 7.2 km WNW of Kilquhane (see under Garrane above). ~ 2.4 km SE of the Greenhill Ogam stones is the fine wedge-tomb at Island .
Gurranes: Stone-row
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~ 17.7 km NW are the petroglyphs at Ballybane.
Island: Wedge-tomb
8.8 km SSE of Mallow and 1.2 km E of Burnfort, to the W of a by-road, approached up a lane and through a farmyard, this is a fine example of a small wedge-tomb, excavated in 1957. The gallery, 6 metres long, and facing SW, is a single chamber, bounded by typical double wall of stones. Parallel to the gallery is the heel-shaped kerb which connects with the flat façade of the tomb. The thin roof-stones are in situ, and much of the cairn material survives between the gallery and the kerb.
Kealkil: Stone Circle, Standing Stones and Cairn
click on the thumbnail for larger pictures
800 metres SE of Kealkill village and about 180 metres NE of a sharp steep by-road, the tops of the standing stones are just visible from the road. This impressive and splendidly-situated monument (overlooking Bantry Bay and Kealkill village) comprises a fine 5-stone axial circle of large stones, with 2 outlying monoliths, the higher of which is now almost 4 metres high. It was originally over 6 metres high. This is one of the few circle sites to have been excavated, and inside the circle was found a setting of crossed timber sleepers which may perhaps have held anupright of wood or stone. Like most stone-rows, the two outliers are on a NE-SW axis, parallel with that of the circle. Nearby also is a small cairn of stones incorporating a circle of small upright stones set radially (see also Knockraheen under Scrahanard). ~ Just over 400 metres SW of The Kealkil monuments, in the third field on the opposite side of the road, in Breeny More (W 050 552) are the remains of a large multiple-stone circle enclosing four boulder-burials set in the form of a rectangle. The circle must originally have been impressive, but the only stones now standing are the entrance stones, the axial stone (overthrown) and three others. The boulder-burials are good examples, all with large cover-stones. The standing stones of Kealkil can also be seen in the distance to the NE. ~ 5 km ENE is one of two stone circles in Maughanaclea (W 104 565), easily accessible by a farm-lane. It is over 10 metres in diameter and contains two boulder-burials. Twelve of the original 13 stones survive, five of them fallen.
1.5 km E by S of the first circle, is another (W 090 563) immediately W of a tarred track is a five-stone circle with an outlier 2.4 metres high. ~ 7.2 km W by N are the boulder-burials, standing stones, and stone circle at Mill Little.
Keamcorravooly: Wedge-tomb
75 metres S of a byroad, opposite a small plantation of spruce trees on either side of the road, some 11.2 km SSW of Ballyvourney and 800 metres WSW of the Bansheelin river, "The Giant's Grave", (An Uaigh an Fhathaigh) , is a neat and picturesque tomb about 3.6 m long, with two overlapping roof-slabs, the easternmost of which is supported by a small chocking-stone on top of the backstone. It is markedly wedge-shaped, and retains much of its double-walling. Like most of the Cork wedge-tombs it is low, the entrance being about 106 cm high. It commands a fine view of the hills to the N and W. About 200 metres further up the hill, on a ridge, is a second, ruined, wedge-tomb. The large field in which they stand has been planted with forest which probably now hides the tombs.
Kilmaclenine: Megalithic Tomb
Known as 'Acuthogue' , and situated 4.8 km SW of Buttevant and 1.2 km ENE of Kilmaclenine Crossroads, on the left hand side of a lane leading NNW from a byroad, this box-like tomb (an enormous kist ?) was opened in the last century and found to contain 'a skeleton, a sword and some beads'. The roofstone is over 2.75 metres long, supported on two sidestones and a backstone almost 1.5 metres high.
Knockdrum: Stone Fort, Souterrain, and Cross-pillar
1.2 km W of Castletownshend, on the S side of the road, opposite Gurranes stone-row, approached by a path and steps, this fort was restored in the last century and encloses an area 22 metres across. In the middle is a roofless square stone hut, from one corner of which a 3-chambered lintel-roofed souterrain runs through hewn rock. Just inside the entrance to the fort is a cross-pillar (presumably found nearby and erected here by the restorers). Outside the entrance, and probably not directly connected with the fort, is a large boulder bearing about 40 cup-marks, dating from the Bronze Age. On the right hand side of the entrance passage is a small guard-chamber. ~17.7 km NW are the petroglyphs at Ballybane .
Knocknagoun: Wedge-tomb
10.4 km NNW of Coachford and 2 km N of Sheskinny Cross, 60m E of a track, a quaint, low tomb, with a gallery about 2.1 metres long, closed at the E end, is covered by 2 capstones. The larger (2 metres long) overlaps the smaller, and they rest on 6 sidestones and a backstone. Round about is some evidence of a cairn. Up to the end of the last century it was completely covered by cairn stones. Attempts to destroy the sepulchre led to several misfortunes, and only the cairn and most of the outer walling have been removed.
Labbacallee: Wedge-tomb
2 km SE of Glanworth and 8 km NW of Fermoy, by the roadside, over a wall, this is the largest of Irish wedge-tombs. Three huge capstones (the largest being nearly 8 metres long and weighing 10 tonnes) slope downwards towards the back. The gallery consists of a large rectangular chamber, with a small one behind it, separated by a dividing slab, one corner of which has been trimmed off to leave a 'half-porthole'. The gallery is triple-walled, and buttressed at the back by 3 slabs set parallel with the tomb's axis. In front of the gallery are the remains of a large rectangular, unroofed portico or antechamber, wider than the gallery and cut off from it by a large slab. It is one of many tombs especially wedge-tombs to be (latterly) associated with the Celtic Hag-goddess also known as Caillech Bhéarra : Labbacallee (Leaba Caillighe) means "Hag's Bed". Other tombs are associated with the lovers Dermot and Grania in the folk tradition. The sepulchre resembles a French gallery-tomb in size and design, a similarity shared by the wedge-tomb at Burren , Cavan.
Lettergorman: Stone Circle
Less than 800 metres SE of Lough Atariff, about 50 metres S of a narrow by-road, the 5-stone circle is 3 metres in diameter, and has stones up to 150 cm high. The axial stone is 5 metres long. One portal stone has fallen, as has a large quartz monolith. ~ A rare Irish "four-poster" circle lies in the same townland (W 267 473, marked Standing Stones ), 1.75 km NNE. ~ 800 metres NW, and 5 fields in from a derelict house on the left of the same byroad, in Knockawaddra , is an alignment of four stones, in descending height, the highest of which is 3.5 metres, commanding a view over the Glashagloragh river valley. When ploughing the adjacent field a farmer observed 'a bright red streak in the soil' extending eastwards from the stone-row. ~ An axial stone circle can be seen at Carrigagrenane (W 254 432). ~ 3.6 km E of the Lettergorman Southwest circle, and 150 metres (second field) S of the Clonakilty-Dunmanway road, in Knocks (W 300 456), is yet another circle. It has 2 good portal stones, with 5 others visible, and the axial stone is embedded in a fence. The farmer on whose land the circle stands cleared the field and dumped the stones in the circle, which local opinion considered to have been the cause of the mysterious deaths of his cattle. ~ 2.4 km S by W of the first Lettergorman circle is another circle at Maulatanvally (see under Reanascreena South ).
Mill Little: Stone Circle and Boulder-burials
7. 2 km due E of Glengarriff, and 100 metres W of the south-flowing Cooleenmane River, 50 metres W of a tributary stream which joins the river at Millbeg Bridge to the E, this 5-stone circle was unusual in having the entrance stones (now disappeared) set roughly parallel to form a short entrance passage a feature sometimes occurring in multiple-stone circles. W of the axial stone is a boulder-burial, 125 cm high, whose rounded cover rests on three supports. S of this is another boulder, possibly the cover of a second burial.
~ 7.2 km E by S, are the stone circle and standing stones at Kealkil.
Reananerree: Stone Circle and Alignment
4.8 km S of Ballyvourney, 300 metres SE of Reananerree Church and 200 metres E of the road to Ballyvourney, in the middle of a large field is a very small 5-stone circle (or rather an oval) 2.6 metres in maximum diameter, with small stones ranging from 30 cm (the axial stone, in the foreground) to 85 cm in height. ~ 120 metres SE of the circle is a circle of six stones (marked Stone-row on the map) decreasing in height from 150 to 50 cm. It is unfortunately divided in two by a stone fence and a line of spruce trees, but once commanded a fine view. ~ 1.5 km NNE, and 500 metres ESE of the site of demolished Gortanimill House, near the top of a rock outcrop about 80 metres E of the by road from Reananeree to Ballyvourney, in Gortanimill (W 208 741), is a multiple-stone circle of 12 stones about 90 cm high enclosing an area 7.5 metres in diameter, with 2 small quartz boulders in the centre. The site commands fine views, and is one of the few circles which can be viewed from above.
Reanascreena South: Stone Circle
4.8 km NNW of Ross Carbery and 800 metres NW of a byroad at a height of 170 metres, a circle of twelve large stones (2 forming a portal, with the axial stone opposite) is surrounded by a low earthen bank with a shallow ditch, similar to the circle at Glantane East. The axis points WSW and thus, unlike the nearby circles of Bohonagh and Drombeg does not relate to the sunset at either solstices or equinox. ~ There are several other axial-stone circles in the neighbourhood, including one which is 3.2 km due N of the Reanascreena site and 100 metres E of a byroad in Maulatanvally. Only seven stones survive, including one portal stone 140 cm high. Small quartz pebbles surround a central white quartz boulder. ~ 2.5 km NW (W 254 432) is another stone circle at Carrigagrenane . ~ 4.5 km N is a five-stone circle (W 262 456), and, 6.2 km N (W 267 473 - marked Standing Stones on the map) a rare Irish "four-poster" circle - both in the townland of Lettergorman .
Roovesmore: Stone-row
3.2 km S by W of Coachford, in fields to the S and W of a byroad, situated tangentially between two raths (Iron Age farmsteads) this strange alignment is about 400 metres long. The stone nearest to the road (originally almost 3 metres high) is now prostrate and broken in two. It may have been a single standing-stone. In the next field, to the SSW, is another prostrate stone 4.8 metres long beside a large boulder and a notched, leaning upright stone 3.1 metres high. In a third field, also to the SSW, is a cup-marked stone 1.6 metres high, together with a greatly cup-marked boulder. The fort on the other side of the road to the NNE end of the stone-row (marked Ogham Stones on the map) has a deep ditch between two banks and a line of three low boulders outside it. The entrance of this fort, the first standing stone, and the smaller overgrown fort are all in line - which may or may not be fortuitous.
Scrahanard: Wedge-tomb
6.4 km N by W of Macroom, by a field-fence immediately to the W of a narrow byroad from Carriganimmy to Macroom, 500 metres NW of a junction, "The Bealick" is a brambly tomb with a capstone 2.3 metres by 2 metres wide. The backstone of the gallery, and the sidestones adjoining it, have scratched marks on the inside face, more lightly incised than those at Baurnadomeeny , Tipperary. Crosses were scored on the outside face of one of the stones in the last century. In the same field stands a single slab and also what looks like an untouched cairn. Beyond the cairn is a souterrain. ~ 70 metres SE of the circle is a cairn with radial stones on its perimeter, surrounded by a ditch and an outer bank. Two other cairns lie about 130 metres NE of the circle. The group seems to have been a large single ritual complex (compare Kealkil ). ~ The area around Macroom and Coachford is very rich in prehistoric remains, especially standing-stones and stone-rows. ~ In the adjoining townland of Lackaduv , on the other side of the road, approached by a track opposite "The Bealick" and situated on a rocky slope, is an impressive wedge-tomb. The capstone is 2.4 metres long and 1.8 metres wide. Much of the double-walling has survived. ~ In Knockraheen , 1.6 km NNW of "The Bealick", a short distance to the N of the same road (W 303 802) is a stone circle of five stones pointing to the S, with remains of an alignment (two quartz stones still standing and a third prostate) on the same axis. From here, amid a dramatic landscape, can be seen the two large standing stones on the ridge of Knockraheen mountain. 30 metres NNE is a cairn with two standing-stones to the NNW; 60 metres SSE is a "radial cairn". ~ 4 km W by N of "The Bealick" are two stone-rows in Cabragh . See also under Glantane East .
Templebryan North: Stone Circle
Immediately E of the road, 4 km N of Clonakilty, are the remains of a fine large stone circle, of which only 5 large stones all flat-topped out of a probable 9 now survive. These include the axial-stone, and one of the portals which is almost 2.1 metres high. In the middle of the circle, which is about 10 metres in diameter, is a quartz boulder.
~ Some 300 metres NW is a neglected enclosure containing graves, a ruined square oratory, a souterrain, a holy well (Tobernakilla') , a bullaun , and a fine tapering monolith 3.3 metres high, low down on whose W face is a worn cross-pattée and a faint Ogam inscription reported to read ANM TENAS MACI V. . . They were both carved on an existing standing stone which may have had some connection with the stone circle. |
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