county list
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SELECTED MONUMENTS IN COUNTY CORK Place-names in italics refer to listed entries. |
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NOTE: Cork
is Ireland's largest county and the richest in megaliths.
click
on the thumbnail for a larger picture Conspicuously
sited across a little valley E of the Clonakilty-Rosscarbery
road on a ledge of the hillside 2.4 km E of Rosscarbery, and
approachable through a farm to the SW of a by-road leading SW
off the Rosscarbery-Clonakilty road to the NE of the tomb. ~ A little over 850 metres to the N is Bohonagh axial-stone circle. Arderawinny:
Portal-tomb click on the thumbnail
for larger pictures This picturesque
tomb is 4 km WSW of Skull and about 90 metres N of the road
from Skull to Toormore Bay. in a little hollow, facing into
a low cliff. ~ 1.6 km WSW and 20 metres to the W of the same road, where it meets Toormore Bay, in Altar (V 858 303) is a Wedge-tomb one of whose two capstones has slipped and is now leaning against the front (W) end of the tomb - which points directly towards Mizen Head. It is 2.4 by 2.2 metres with a square piece (? intentionally) knocked off. The other capstone is 2.7 by 2.1 metres. Some of the low orthostats and nearly all of the cairn are missing. Excavations in 1989 showed that the tomb had continuous activity surrounding it from around 2000 BCE to 1400 AD! Somewhat sterilely furnished with its own car-park and information board, the structure has undergone some renovation, but the concrete that now holds up the walls is well hidden. ~ 1.1 km NNW in Toormore, immediately S of the R.951 (V 855 308) is another ruined wedge-tomb of similar design, excavated in 1990, whose single roofstone rests on rather rickety walls. No traces of a covering cairn were found. Five separate 'depositional events' occurred between 1800 and 1600 BCE, soon after the construction of the monument. The O.S. map shows it in the wrong place: it is actually in the garden of the pub to the east of the road junction.
~ 7 km NE in Rathcoole (V 940 333) is an overgrown male/female pair of stones standing in their own little field. They are aligned north-south, with the male (more pointed and slightly taller) stone at the north around 1.5 metres high. ~ 6 km ENE in Skull (V 934 318) is a standing-stone some 1.7 metres tall, on the driveway to The Standing Stone Gallery & Exotic Plant Centre. ~ 10 km
NNE on open moorland in Dunbeacon (V 927 393) is a circle
of 6 stones still standing (at odd angles) and 5 prostrate,
including one at the centre. As at Bohonagh and Drombeg,
the sea is visible through a fold in the hills to the W. ~ 17.7 km NE are the petroglyphs at Ballybane. Ardgroom
Outward: Stone Circle click on the thumbnail
for larger pictures Commanding a fine view from its exposed position over Bantry Bay 7.2 km WSW of Lauragh Bridge and about 500 metres SSE of the R 571 road, approachable by farm-lane and across bogland, this fine axial-stone circle has stones similar to the pillar-like slabs of the smaller circle at Drombohilly (Kerry), 9.6 km NE. In this circle also 9 stones survive, with some unfortunately missing: one can be seen in a field-fence some distance to the N. They range from l30 cm to almost 2 metres in height. Outside the circle, to the E, is an associated standing stone. The axial stone is, unusually, set with its long axis vertical. ~ 1.6 km NE is a small (bushy) stone circle at Glashaninnaun (V 719 565) comprising four massive stones two metres high by two metres broad enclosing a space only 4 metres in diameter. ~ 3.2
km W is the tall Ogham-inscribed standing ~ 9.8 km SSW is another fine circle at Derreenataggart West. ~ Less than 4.5 km E is Shronebirrane stone circle, Kerry. ~ Less than 4.5 km NE is a 5-stone circle at Cashelkeelty (V 748 573). Ballybane:
Petroglyphs 9.6 km SE of Bantry and l.6 km SSW of Ballybane House, immediately to W of a by-road on a sharp bend, a large area of horizontal rock surface (not pitted like most of the surrounding surfaces) is decorated with circles and ovals up to 60 cm in diameter, at least one cup-mark and several long straight lines, some of which are parallel. The grooves are unusually wide. ~ The map indicates another group a couple of hundred metres NNW. ~ 17.7 km SW is Arderawinny portal-tomb. ~ 17.5 km SE are Gurranes alignment and Rathdrum fort. Ballyvourney:
Monastic Site, Cross-pillar, etc. This site,
13.6 km WNW of Macroom, beside a by-road leading S from the
N 22 road between Ballyvourney and Ballymakeery, may be of extreme
antiquity. 'St Gobnait's House' or 'St Gobnait's Kitchen' is
a circular hut (partly restored) with an internal diameter of
6 metres. It was occupied in the Early Christian period by workers
in bronze and iron-smelters. In the graveyard across the road
is "St Gobnait's Grave": a small mound with 3 bullaun stones
and the abandoned crutches and offerings of hopeful pilgrims.
Ballyvourney is the scene of a 'pattern' still performed,
and St Gobnait, a virgin whose emblem is the fertility symbol
of the bee, is credited with the cure of the sick. (A legend
connected with St Gobnait has given the name to the townland
of Lackavihoonig: the flagstone of the thief. The saint fastened
the thief and the cow and calf he stole on to the flagstone
on which they were standing at the fateful meeting. The stone
has the imprints of feet and hooves upon it.) ~ About 1.2 km ESE in a glade in Shanagloon townland are "St Abbán's Grave" (a small cairn), a bullaun stone, and three Ogam stones. A fourth has been removed. The others have been deliberately chipped. ~ At the other side of the main road, in the middle of a large field 800 metres down a by-road (first turn on left past Ballymakeery if going in the direction of Macroom) is "St Gobnait's Stone", found at the site of a dry Holy Well nearby. It is a fine cross-pillar some 90 cm above ground, bearing on each face a cross-pattée of arcs inscribed in a double circle. On one face this is surmounted by a small crozier-carrying figure with parted hair, resembling a portrait in the Book of Durrow. ~ 2.4 km NNW of Ballyvourney, E. of a lane leading from the main road towards Lough Carrignafurark, in Slievereagh, are 2 large, pointed stones 3.3 metres and 1.2 metres high, whose parallel perpendicular faces are only 70 cm apart. Behind them is a low slab, apparently for support. Two stumps lie on either side of the stones, making the monument appear like the remains of a tomb. Beenalaght:
Stone-row This is the best-known alignment in the area, 13.6 km SW of Mallow, on a hill to the W of the Mallow-Coachford road about 1.6 km SW of Bweeng. Known as 'An Seisear' (The Six), five stones from 1.8 metres to 3 metres high are standing, while a sixth is prostrate. The area is rich in prehistoric remains, especially Standing-stones. ~ A short distance NW and close to Bweeng in Glandine (W 481 888) is a pair of stones sited in a field beside a deep valley topped by the strange 'Monkeys Bridge'. The taller stone is 3.3 metres and the smaller one is 2 metres high. ~ 1.6 km S by W is Gowlane North Stone Circle. ~ 3.6 km NNW are other alignments in Garrane. Bohonagh:
Stone Circle and Boulder-burial click
on the thumbnail for a larger picture Situated 2.4 km E by N of Ross Carbery, to the NW of the road from Ross Carbery to Clonakilty, halfway between it and the by-road leading to Quaker's Crossroads, four out of the original 13 large stones of this impressive circle are missing, and 3 were re-erected after excavation. The 2 portal stones are 2.4 metres high and are set radially. The axis from these to the large axial-stone on the W side points to sunset at the equinoxes. ~ 20
metres E of the circle is a boulder-burial,
resembling a low, miniature dolmen whose large capstone has
seven or more small cup-marks on its upper surface. Two of the
three small supporting stones are of quartz; a fourth has been
uprooted. A loose slab nearby also bears cup-marks. The complex,
which included a rectangular wooden house (excavated) was revealed
to be of Bronze Age date, as might be expected.
~ 800 metres SW and 1.5 km) E of Rosscarbery, a short distance W of a by-road in Burgatia (W 303 355), is another boulder-burial, comprising a large boulder resting on the inner edges of 2 flat-topped blocks, one of which is a quartz conglomerate. ~ 800 metres S of Bohonagh is Ahaglaslin portal-tomb. ~ Other nearby stone circles are at Knocks, (W 299 457), Drombeg and Reanascreena South. Cabragh:
Stone-rows and circle TThis
group of monuments is 10 km due S of Millstreet and 9.6 km NW
of Macroom, and 4 km WNW of Scrahanard wedge-tomb, to
the E of a long track leading to Carriganirtane. About 150 metres
E of the track is a stone-row 9 metres long of six stones 90
cm apart, two of which have fallen. The tallest stone still
standing is 180 cm high; the southernmost stone (fallen) is
2.75 metres long. ~ North of the second alignment, farther up the hill, is a third. ~ 800 metres N, just S of the summit of Carriganirtane hill, in Carriganirtane is a fine low wedge-tomb nearly 4 metres long with 3 roof stones and some double-walling on both sides. ~ On the W side of the track leading up to Cabragh and Carriganir-tane, in the townland of Clashmaguire (W 280 786) can be seen a fine pair of standing stones which seem to fit into the category of male-and-female. ~ 1.1 km S of the Clashmaguire pair and 1.8 km S of the Cabragh alignment (W 282 775) in Caherkeegane is a fine standing-stone. Caherurlagh:
Holed Stone 6 km WSW of Kilcrohane, about 120 metres N of the road to Sheep's Head, near the townland of Ballyroon. Caherurlagh is a very small townland, and once it is located, the stone can be found with local help. When I saw it in the nineteen-seventies it was lying prostrate on the W side of the fence to a field which occupied the site of a stone fort. The entrance to the field was said to be the entrance of the fort. The half-buried stone is 2.25 metres long and the hole is 13 cm in diameter and 12 cm deep. The centre of the hole is 43 cm from one end and 13 cm from one edge. The house nearby used to be occupied by a healing man who, amongst other cures, made a barren sow fertile by laying a hand on her through the hole. The stone has lain prostrate for at least 70 years. ~ (For other holed stones see Doagh, Antrim and Hurlstone, Louth.) Carrigagulla:
Stone Circle Surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills, 2.8 km N by E of Ballynagree and 11.2 km NNE of Macroom, about 150 metres to the E of a good track leading up to the monument-rich Boggeragh mountains, at a point where the track dips into a valley, this fine axial-stone circle, 8.2 metres in diameter, comprises sixteen stones and a misplaced one. They vary in height from almost 90 cm down to just over 30. Unusually, the long, straight-edged axial stone is not the lowest; the highest is next to the lower of the two portal stones. In the middle of the circle is a boulder. ~ About 250 metres N, in the next field, at the edge of a coniferous forest and near the river Laney, is another circle of classic 5-stone, D-shaped type, whose axial stone has a (naturally) bevelled upper surface. ~ Just under 1 km S (W 371 829) is a seriously disturbed alignment of at least four stones, only one of which remains in its original position. Three others were removed and now stand as gate-posts nearby. A fourth may not have belonged to the row. Another stone-row lies just over 1 km E (W 383 829). ~ Just
over 2 km SE is one of two circles in Oughtihery townland
(W 391 821), a very neat five-stone construction just 3.2 metres
in diameter, with field-stones dumped inside. The overlooking
hill feels important to the site. It and the circle, and a large
4-metre-high and sculptural standing-stone 2 fields away (W
393 822) form a line. ~ 2.4 km ESE is Knocknagoun wedge-tomb. ~ 9.6 km SW is Scrahanard wedge-tomb. Castlenalact:
Stone-row and Boulder-burial click
on the thumbnail for a larger picture 5.6 km
N by W of Bandon and about 70 metres W of a by-road, this superb
alignment commands fine views and comprises 4 stones increasing
in height from 2.2 to over 3.4 metres. A prostrate stone between
the two smallest is not original. In the next field, 400 metres
to the N, is a boulder-burial: a large rounded boulder is set
on 3 supporting stones between 40 and 60 cm high, and a little
above a fourth stone. 200
metres from the alignment (W 486 612) is a single standing-stone
1.4 metres tall. Cloghboola
Beg: Stone circles, etc. In Millstreet Country
Park, situated
below and within sight of Knocknakilla Hill and its many megaliths
- see under Glantane East) is
a 'complex' of stones and circles described as follows by Ken
Williams:- ~ Just over 3 km NW in Cloghboola More (W 277 872) is another alignment, of one large well-shaped stone over 3 metres high, and two rather smaller ones. ~ 300 metres W of the alignment is a stone circle (W 274 872). Coolineagh:
Ogam Stones Less than 20 metres SE of the ruined church of Aghabulloge, 7.2 km NW of Coachford, to the E of a by-road leading NW of the road from Aghabulloge to Rylane Cross, is a damaged Ogam stone 1.5 metres high, also bearing 3 plain crosses, and crowned with Caipín Olainn (St Olann's Cap), a lump of quartzite. Originally there were two superimposed stones, but because of the phallic character and popularity of the monument (as a cure-stone for barrenness, headaches, etc.) a local priest removed them. They were promptly replaced by the present caipín. ~ 135 metres N, in a field, is "St Olann's Stone", a boulder with "the Saint's Footprints". ~ About 400 metres NNE of the church, by the W side of the road from Aghabulloge to Rylane Cross is "St Olann's Well", a corbelled, clochán-like well-house with an ivy-covered hawthorn-tree growing out of it. Nearby is a second Ogam stone, just under 2.7 metres high, which reads RQIDEGO. On the 5th of September there is a pattern around the caipín, stone, and well. This is evidently a site of great antiquity, only superficially Christianised. The country round about is littered with stone circles, standing stones, souterrains, and Ogam stones: ~ 3.2 km N is Rylane stone circle. ~ 3.2 km NW is the more easterly of the two Oughtihery circles. ~ 3.8 km NNW is Knocknagoun wedge-tomb. ~ 9.6 km NNE is Beenalaght alignment. ~ 11.2 km W are the monuments around Scrahanard wedge-tomb. Currakeal:
Stone circle and megalithic landscape The map marks the stone circle, one of several stone-rows (mostly fallen) and a boulder-burial - but there is reportedly more besides (including hut-sites) on a remote plateau above Glengarriff with panoramic views to East, South and West. The nearby laneway seems to be lined with megalithic orthostats. ~ About 850 metres NW, in the 'Burial Ground' marked on the map, is a fine megalithic bullaun. ~ ~ Several kilometres SE, in Gortnacowly (W 088 543) are the dramatic remains of a fine four-poster circle, the tallest of whose three long stones is 3.2 metres high. The fourth stone was apparently still standing at the end of the 19th century. ~ 11.6 kms SW in Ballynahown (V 843 516) are the remaining two sidestones and a roofstone of a little wedge-tomb offering fine views over Bantry Bay, and aligned to midwinter sunset over a spur of Hungry Hill to the SW. Derreenataggart
West: Stone Circle Situated 1.2 km WNW of Castletown Berehaven and 50 metres N of "The Beara Way", eight of the post-like stones of this neat circle are standing, including one of the radially-set portal stones. The other portal stone has broken, and three other stones of the circle have fallen. The axial stone is a fine slab 1.2 metres high and 2.1 metres long. ~ Just under 10 km NNE is another circle of post-like stones at Ardgroom Outward. ~ 3.4
km NNE at Kilmackowen (V 680 495) are a standing-stone
and wedge-tomb. A fine slab some 3.5 metres tall and 1 metre
broad stands on the northwest face of Eagle Hill in the Slieve
Miskish Mountains to the north of Castletownberehaven. A stile
thoughtfully put up by the landowner into the next field leads
to a charming little wedge-tomb on a small raised platform.
Both its sides are formed using single slabs and there is some
close-set double walling on the northern side. The front is
open to the west. A single triangular roofstone covers the unsegmented
gallery. ~ Just under 8 km NE in Cloontreem (V 694 489), spectacularly sited close to the "O'Sullivan Beara Way" in the Slieve Mish mountains above Castletownberehaven is a dramatic but ruined wedge-tomb, with two fine façade-stones still standing like portals, and a large, squarish roof-stone leaning against the only side-stone not to have fallen. ~ Just over 6.4 km N by W is the tall Ogam-inscribed standing stone at Faunkill-and-the-Woods. ~ A little over 8 km E by S, in Ardaragh on Bear (or Bere) Island (linked to the mainland by-road) is a wedge-tomb) close to a lane from the old British naval rifle range to Rerrin hamlet. It comprises a collapsed main chamber about 5 metres long, the front (W) end of which is a short portico or antechamber with a septal stone 1.3 metres high. Drombeg:
Stone Circle and Cooking-place click on the thumbnail
for a larger picture Thirteen out of the original 17 stones of this impressive circle (2.4 km E of Glandore, 250 metres down a path to the E of a by-road) survive, the most westerly of which is the fine axial, which has two egg-shaped cup-marks, one with a surrounding ring. The two portal stones (1.8 metres high) are as usual on the NE side. Radio-carbon tests on the cremated burial found in the centre of the circle gave a date between 150 BC and 130 AD, though the circle itself is almost certainly Bronze Age. The long-continued use and re-use of sacred sites is not uncommon in Ireland (see Altar under Arderawinny, above). This is one of the few megalithic sites on the Tourist Trail, and it has suffered accordingly from the feet and eating-habits of people who have no particular interest in stone circles or megaliths in general. And instead of the horribly-inappropriate 'official' gravel, white quartzite chips would be much more in keeping with ancient tradition. ~ Just over 30 metres to the W are the remains of 2 conjoined round huts, the larger of which had a timber roof supported by a central post. The smaller hut had a cooking-oven on its E side. From the huts a causeway leads to a cooking-place containing a hearth, a well, and a trough in which water was boiled by dropping in hot stones — almost 350 litres could be boiled within 15 minutes of the stones being dropped in. The presence of the stone circle, huts, and cooking-place suggests that annual or seasonal gatherings took place at a sacred site down to the fifth century AD, the dating obtained for the cooking-place.
~ The stone circles of Bohonagh and Reanascreena South are not far away. Farranahineeny:
Stone-row This fine alignment, 1.6 km W by N of Poulnaberry Bridge, comprises five stones (some broken), ranging from 1.4 to 3 metres high. It is beautifully situated and commands a splendid view.
~ 2.4 km ESE, in Inchincurka (W 233 596), 1.6 km E by N of Poulnaberry Bridge and 150 metres (in the second low, lush field) N of the road, is a wedge-tomb. Though it has been used as a dump for field-stones, its state of preservation and accessibility make it worth visiting. The narrow wedge-shaped gallery (3 metres long) is covered by three overlapping roofstones. Its characteristic flat façade (facing West) is formed by two stones 1.4 metres high, and much of the tightly-set double-walling survives. There is no evidence, however, of a portico or antechamber. ~ 5 km SSW in Inchireagh (W 190 564) is an easily-accessible but inelegant example of a 5-stone circle, some 2.5 metres in diameter, with a tiny axial stone - and fine views of the hills to the SW. ~ 6.2
km W by N of Farranahineeny, about 1.2 km SW of Cloghboola Bridge,
and about 85 metres N of the road, in Cloghboola, (W
142 613) a small neat wedge-tomb, one metre high with a capstone
2.4 by 1.5 metres, is hidden, unfortunately by a dreary forestry
plantation. I have not yet managed to visit this tomb, nor any
of the other megaliths in the area, including a reported stone-row
at Cornery, about 1 km NE of the bridge and 25 metres
SE of the road (not marked on the map); wedge-tombs in the hills
to the N in Carrigamuck; and "Bord na Rí",
a remote but promising-sounding wedge-tomb in Derryriordane
(W 133 617) just S of a stream flowing down from Douce Mountain.
Faunkill-and-the-Woods:
Ogam Stone ~ 300 m SSW (a short distance SW of the main road) is an axial-stone circle of eight very low stones at the end of a low mound. ~ 3.2 km) E is the stone circle at Ardgroom Outward. ~ Just over 6.5 km S by E is another circle at Derreenataggart West. Garrane:
Stone-row 3.2 km NW of Bweeng and 11.2 km SW of Mallow, just visible on the rising slope 200 metres S of a T-junction at the bridge over the Duvglasha river, this fine alignment (or stone-row) offers a panoramic view across the valley of the river Blackwater. It comprises three stones close together and measuring from 2.5 to over 3.7 metres high. A fourth one has fallen. A single stone stands about 100 metres SE, and there is a second row (of 3 stones) 300 metres S, beyond a strip of conifer-plantation. 300 metres ESE is a cashel with remains of circular stone huts inside, and a nearby souterrain. ~ 2.4 km NNW, about 900 metres E by N of Lahuran crossroads, in Gneeves, is another, unusual, alignment of 3 stones whose broad faces are parallel, but not in line. The highest is 2.6 metres. ~ 1.6 km due S, and 20 metres NE of the road from Bweeng to Lomburds-town, 4.8 km NW of Bweeng, is Lackendarragh holed stone. It is in an enclosure known as Kilkillin (cut through by the road), which seems to have been an early Christian graveyard. Nearby is a souterrain. The slab is 122 cm high and 2.7 cm thick. At the S edge is a curving hole, probably formed naturally, 5 cm in diameter, 11.3 cm on its long side, and 5 cm on its short side. A report in the 19th century alleged that 'handkerchieves' (probably rags) were passed through it to cure wounds. Skulls have been found round about, and many local stories of supernatural moving lights, etc, are associated with the site. ~ 3.6 km SSE is Beenalaght alignment. ~ 7.2
km ESE is Kilquhane holed stone - see under
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