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Image of Ballyvackey (Stone Circle) by Ebor

Ballyvackey Stone Circle –
Just outside Clonakilty, some stones are missing from from this mystical site but its truely a magical place!

Image credit: www.eborbenson.com
Image of Ballyvackey (Stone Circle) by gjrk

The remaining radially-set portal

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
Image of Ballyvackey (Stone Circle) by gjrk

The axial stone – flat, horizontal top that slopes steeply inwards and the common diagonal tail-off on the northern side.

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
Image of Ballyvackey (Stone Circle) by gjrk

The sheer, flattened top of the stone south of the axial – covered in a pinkish quartz that catches the southern swing of the sun. A very helpful lean outwards, presumably not an original feature, accentuates the effect.

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
Image of Ballyvackey (Stone Circle) by gjrk

Others find long-hidden panels of rock art; circles, rings, cups and spirals. It is my fate to reveal modernish abbreviations. Neatly done this time though, in fairness. The top of the second stone north of the axial – who or what is SED?

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
Image of Ballyvackey (Stone Circle) by gjrk

Looking southwest towards the circle from the possible boulder-burial.

Image credit: Gordon Kingston
Image of Ballyvackey (Stone Circle) by gjrk

The ‘possible cover’ of a boulder burial (Archaeological Inventory of Cork, No.99), looking south. The standing stone (No.242), I am assuming to have become that vanishing glimpse of slab on the ground to the right.

Image credit: Gordon Kingston

Articles

Ballyvackey

At least a couple of interesting features here:

There seems to be either two or four stones missing; the northern portal, the stone that would have been immediately to the south of the axial and perhaps two more set opposite each other on the north and south sides. The remains of Templebryan and Knocks S pose the same reimagining problem.

Of the remaining stones, all except the southern portal have, to some degree, flattened smooth tops. It’s not unusual to come across a stone or two like this at any site, but all? Either there was a pressing ritual need for the elaboration or else this building group took particular pride in their work. The second orthosatat to the south of the axial, like that at Knocks N, is the most table-like.

The axial stone is almost a straight lift from Bohonagh; an inward-leaning, smooth top, bisected on its length by a seam and ending on its northern side with a downward slope.

The entrance stone is radially set, a feature shared by Bohonagh, Knocks N, Knocks S, Carrigagrenane S and Maulatanvally – all local circles in the Argideen/Rosscarbery group. Templebryan, Drombeg, Reenascreena, Ahagilla and Lettergorman S have their portals set on the circumference.

The large, clam-like stone, to the north of the circle, is listed in the Archaeological Inventory as a boulder-burial, though qualified in the midst of their description with a ‘possible’. There is no sign of any support stones and the accompanying standing stone is also missing. This may now be the half-covered, ground-level flag on the western side – it would originally have stood only 50cm high.

The landowners live in the farmhouse on the opposite side of the main road, to the south.

Archaeological Inventory of Cork, 1992; No.43 (Stone Circle); No.99 (Boulder Burial); No.242 (Standing Stone)
Cope, ‘The Megalithic European’, 2004; 252

Ballyvackey

Travelling north 1.6 miles on the road from Clonakilty to Dunmanway, Ballyvackey stone circle lies in a field to the right. The site was recommended to us by Julian when we bumped into him at Kealkil. It isn’t in Burl’s Guide (it is in the big book though), and just gets a brief mention by Jack Roberts in his wonderful guide ‘The Stone Circles of Cork and Kerry”.

The site is strange, lying near the end of a field, a tree growing by one of its stones. The surrounding scenery is quite unremarkable, compared to its neighbours. Its stones aren’t huge. It’s neither hidden, nor in a striking position. I can understand Burl overlooking it in his guide, there are much bigger, more famous sites very close by, but I would definitely recommend a visit here just for its obscurity.

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