Meic

May 27th 2016
Oh what have they done to Dunbeacon Stone Circle. I hadn’t visited it for a few years now and was looking forward to catching up with this ancient, wild, enigmatic circle.
Nice suprise to start – a stile signed Dunbeacon stone circle – leading along a newly constructed path (with several more stiles). So far – so good. Then the last stretch, and I can tell that it’s not going to be good. The wire fenced avenue turns into a wooden fenced coral. The stones, imprisoned in a begrudgingly small pen. The wildness has gone, the mystery has gone. You might just as well be standing in a sterile museum environment. What have they done ?

Situated in the woods just SW of the Sullane River, in the Townland of An tSeanchluain (Shanacloon) is this interesting collection of monuments. A cairn is flanked by three standing stones, all of which have ogham inscriptions, though only one is now visible now. A Bullaun stone sits on top of the cairn, which is also decorated with a modern cross and various offerings. The cairn is said to be the burial place of St Abán, the Brother of St Gobnait, who’s church sits a kilometre or so to the NW. A few metres downhill is the Holy Well dedicated to St Abán and still in use today.

take the R584 from Ballingeary towards Inchigeelagh. Go past the Boat Cottage Cafe. Soon you will come to a left hand turning – the L7410 signed Tir Na Spideoga B&B appartments. Turn up this road then take the first right over a bridge (again signed for the B&B). Just along this road you cross another small bridge and there is a gate immediately on the right by the stream. The stones are in that field, visible from the road. The gate has a warning not to touch farm animals or machinery !!

I’ve been meaning to get over to these stones for ages now. There has always been either massive cows or molten mud – but today the field is Bovine free and relatively dry. So taking the direct route – under the barbed wire and through the soggy field to the hedge and fence to find a way over. It looks like a number of people have used this route before – the hedge is easily traversed and I am in the field containing what the NMS call – a single standing stone and an anomolous group of stones. Nearest to me is a rectangular standing stone standing 1.58m x 0.85 x 0.45 and aligned NE-SW. A few metres to the North lie three stones/boulders. Are they a fallen row or are they boulder burials ? It’s difficult to say with any certainty. Anyway – this group makes up the “anomolous” stones. 30 metres NE of the standing stone, stands the second menhir. It too is rectangular and aligned NE-SW. The height is 1.9m and it is clearly connected to the stone grouping. It’s an intriguing site and well worth a visit if you are in the area

This stone row has very recently been added to the NMS (National Monument Service), but with no details.
We had seen these stones a few years back on a visit to Brow Head but had dismissed them as being modern. So today, we thought that we would take a closer look.
Three large boulders form a line roughly ENE-WSW. They are quite well spaced out. There are extensive views over Crookhaven to the NE and out to Sea to the South.
The ENE and WSW boulders look as though they just sit on the earth, whilst the middle one is earthfast.
There is another large stone slightly South of the row, which may or may not be connected to it.
In my mind, this row has a very modern feel and look to it, but as I mentioned at the begining, The NMS have scheduled it – CO152-010 so who knows

I had really been looking forward to getting to this one. Imagine my disappointment, when walking round the track, I was met with this beautiful wedge tomb being used as a dustbin storage unit ! I didn’t even recognise it at first and thought that I was in the wrong place... alas no !
Maybe the new owners don’t realise just what they actually have on their land...... there certainly didn’t seem to be much respect for it !

Situated just off of the Sheeps Head Way footpath. Called a 3 stone row/allignment by the National Monument Survey, but seems more likely to be the remnants of a wedge tomb. Set on a mound, one stone remains upright whilst the other two lay prostrate. Another stone lies embedded in the mound.The North Western stone has at least four cup marks on it’s surface.
Access is via a stile into the field.

Three stones make up the row. One large stone and one very small stone are still standing and another large stone lies fallen. The area has been clearfelled and the row is now fenced off. The fallen stone was damaged in an attempt to protect it when the trees were felled. The machine moving it accidentally dropped it, causing a section to shear off
excavations.ie/Pages/Details.php?Year=2003&County=Cork&id=9521

A few hundred yards further on down the main road from Carrigagulla SW there is a turning into the Coilte Forestry plantation.
We follow the track until we come to an obvious right hand turn leading to a dead end.
I know that Carrigagulla NE is just down this track and off in the trees somewhere. I have explicit directions (picked up from this very site). Seems straightforward. Walk to end of track – go west 120 paces – then North 45 paces into trees and voila !
I get to the end of the track,and then step into what looks like an innocuous little puddle....... seconds later I am knee deep in black, smelly bog water, which is rapidly filling my boots. Not quite what I had in mind, as I pull myself up onto drier land. I now forget my Wests from my Norths and somehow circle back to the car. I should have remembered to bring my compass !
Not giving up – its back down the track and then find an obvious dry and easy step over and this time head straight into the trees (right at the corner) and head West. After 100 yards or so I can make out some stones over in a clearing to the right.... and here it is,another magical sight beholds me. Carrigagulla NE five stone circle ! If this circle was just sitting in a field, it would be quite plain. But here in this clearing amongst the conifers it is special – “a must visit” circle.
Again aligned for the cross quarter (240 degrees – Jack Roberts). All five stones are upright and in good condition.
I head back out to the track and squelch my way back to the car. After ringing out my socks, we have our packed lunch whilst sitting listening to the birds singing.

As Bawn 79 says, this circle is signposted from the road. I checked with the farmer who gaveme good directions, mentioning that quite a few people end up getting lost looking for it !
There is actually a wooden sign pointing you into the field which is fairly overgrown with Rushes and is wet ! Instead of going through the field, I walked down the boreen to the old farm and crossed the small stream to wander over to the circle.
It’s a great little multi-stone circle but could definitely do with a bit of vegetation clearance. Brambles are encroaching from the hedgerow and the circle itself has been engulfed by Rushes.
That aside...... as I said earlier it’s a great circle. I count 15 stones still standing – including the low recumbant and the 2 radially set portal stones. A couple of stones have fallen and near the centre lies another. It is aligned just off NE-SW at 245 degrees,which according to Jack Roberts, is for the Cross Quarter.
I take several photo’s and admire the extensive views. Carrigagulla NE circle is only about 500 yards away to the North but is hidden in the forestry.
Get to this one if you can – it’s well worth the walk !

Situated in rough bogland South West of Knocknaveigh.
Drainage channels have been dug right through it exposing the buried half of the stone ! Hopefully this won’t destabilise it too much.
For access,there is a gate by a ruin just south of the radio masts. Go through the gate, the stone is quite obvious some 200 metres South. The terrain is rough but not really wet. Just make a bee line straight for it,picking out the best route as you go !

The third in a line of alignments in Keilnascarta Townland. This one is of two stones and is situated about 100 metres SE of the middle row, seperated by a deep and overgrown disused railway cutting.
Both stones are of a similar height (around 1.5 metres) and are against a field hedge and are overgrown with brambles. They are aligned NE-SW.

The site consists of a three stone row and a single standing stone.
The standing stone is about 25 yards away and is around six and a half feet high.
The row is aligned NE-SW. The middle stone has fallen and is partly buried. The SW stone has split in two giving it quite a dramatic look. This is the fourth example of a split stone that I have seen in West Cork.
Access is through a farmard at the end of a private road. The people are very helpful and friendly.

A wonderful stone pair. Both stones are 2.5 metres high and aligned NE-SW.
Access is the same as for the row, which lies about 50 yards away to the SE across the bohreen.

There are two Stone Pairs and a three stone row here at Keilnascarta. They are in a line NNW-SSE and are all in different fields.
The three stone row is the middle of the three.
Aligned NE-SW, only two of the stones are still upright. The NE stone laying prostrate.
A Hawthorn tree has grown up the middle stone.
All the stones are of a similar height.
Access for this and the NW pair is nice and easy.
Coming from Bantry about 100 yards before the Ballydehob turning there are two bungalows on the left. A small bohreen runs up between them past a farmhouse. The Row is in the field to the right and the stone pair in the field to the left.
Ask at the bungalow on the right or the farmhouse.

A row of 3 stones aligned NE-SW situated just 2 metres South of a radial cairn.
Two of the stones are still upright, whilst the SW stone leans heavily .
A fourth stone lies prostrate alongside the row, but is probably connected with the cairn.

The remains of a radial cairn sit 2 metres to the North of the row.
There is an arc of 7 kerb stones at the Southern end and a number of loose boulders dotted around the interior.

About 350 metres down the road from it’s big brother ! This one is an oblong shape just over a metre high.

The National Monument Survey has this one down as a single Standing Stone, but it’s obviously a pair. The bigger of the two is a massive seven and a half feet tall and around three and a half feet wide and deep. The second stone is a mere stump.
There used to be another standing stone on the other side of the road and is still marked on the OS map but was removed a while ago.

This could be a great little circle. All five stones are there... still standing. But, as with a lot of sites, it’s been rather neglected. Filled with stones from field clearance and overgrown with brambles.
Trawlebane Standing Stone lays about 250 metres to the SW

Phew ! so much variety in such a small area !
The five stone circle has been incorporated into a field hedge and filled with rubble,but its still in good condition. It’s aligned NE-SW for the Winter Solstice. To the NE in the field above sits a standing stone, unfortunately now fallen !
In the field to the North West there is a Cillin and a Ring Fort. Then to cap it all off, about 200 metres t the West there are a variety of Standing Stones, a ruined Radial Cairn and a wonderful Quartz Boulder Burial. The cairn was probably damaged when the site was Christianised and became a focus for St Colman, who incidentally, the Townland is named after. There were two holy wells here on site and pilgrimages were held annually at beltaine, when Pilgrims would walk the penitential rounds.
Access is quite easy. From Cullomane Crossroads on the R586 turn left (if coming from Bantry), then take the first left (at a small crossroads) and the first right. This will take you up to a farm. Ask permission here to access the site. Then just follow the track. The Circle is in the first field. Then just carry on West. The gate on your right takes you to the single standing stone. The same gate, but then through the gate left for the cillin and ring fort. The gate ahead of you for the other stones, cairn and boulder burial.
Well worth the effort !

An impressive large quartz boulder burial. West of the cairn and standing stones. About 200 metres West of the Stone Circle.
Two support stones are barely visible.

in a line of monuments – a standing stone – this cairn – Boulder burial.
The cairn (probably a radial cairn), was turned into part of a penitential stations. The area takes it’s name from St Colman and became the focus of a pilgramage, with the pilgrims doing their rounds on Beltaine.

Standing Stone about 60 metres to the North West of Cullomane East Circle. It has now fallen but stood atop of the hill overlooking the circle. When upright it stood 1.17m tall x 0.85m x 0.48m and was aligned E-W.
measurements from National Monument Survey website.

Nice boulder burial to the NNW of Mount Corrin. A fence which ran across it has been partially torn down. Two support stones are visible.
It’s in a pretty boggy corner of the field I find out, as my foot sinks into the black smelly peaty goo.....

As mentioned by Ocifant – it’s a confusing site.
A complex of a five stone circle, three boulder burials and a stone pair, as well as a host of other stones laying around.
The boulder burials are laid out on a N-S line.
It is thought by some that originally there was a multiple circle here, which was destroyed, (a lot of stones do indeed lay by the field hedge beside the river). Too much damage has probably been done to ever really know.
But still a wonderful site to visit and ponder over.

In the corner of a small field just off the road. In the shadows of Mount Gabriel which lies to the North West.
The stones are alignes NNE-SSW and there is a boulder burial marked on the map some 40 metres to the South South West, the other side of a small stream.

The smaller of the two wedge tombs, This one lies 20 metres North of the second. Situated in a large area of blanket bog, close to the head(s) of the Canrooska Rver. Both are just under the 300m asl mark.
There are fine views across Bantry Bay.

Situated 20 metres South of the Barraboy North Wedge Tomb. This one is more substantial and has an interesting notch cut into the internal slab.
Both tombs are in a flat area of blanket bog, beneath Barraboy Mountain and looking out over Bantry Bay.
It’s a bit of a trek to get there, but well worth the effort. I can’t believe that I missed the standing stone 200 metres away to the NW.

Cairn at the summit of Barraboy Mountain, half in Kerry half in Cork !
A modern cairn now sits in the centre of the old circular cairn, which is roughly 3.8 diameter.

A small 5 stone circle, situated just up a cul de sac lane just south of the school in Derrynacaheragh. There’s just about enough room to park in the gateway.
All five stones are present, but one of the portal stones is leaning sharply inwards. Alligned NE-SW, the axial stone is one of the smallest that I have seen. The internal diameter is just 3 metres.

Situated at the northern foot of Nowen Hill, in an area now cleared of forestry. In the Archaeological Inventory of County Cork Vol 1 West Cork (1992), the stone couldn’t be found, due to “heavy Afforestation”
An immpresive stone,at least 8 foot tall, which has commanding views of the area. Barrboy is to the North, Nowen Hill to the South, and to the West, you look down the Mealagh Valley with Bantry Bay way in the distance.
For access. The stone is clearly visible from the road. There’s a forestry track leading North. Go over the barrier then head straight for it, picking your way through the clearfell area. It’s wet and slippery in places, but easily negotiated. the stone is on a raised area, with a stream running to the West.

A stone Pair to the north of the Owngar River. The larger stone lays prostrate. A Hawthorn tree has grown up between the two stones and is starting to engulf the upright stone.
The heights of the two stones are 2.7and 1.9 metres respectively.
Access is through a gate, which is just down a farm track opposite the Farmhouse.

in a field just North of the infant bandon River. ” metres high and orientated NE-SW. A fulacht Fia sits in the same field just metres away.

This neat little wedge tomb is situated in a clearing in the mealagh Valley, on the Sheeps Head way. Access is really easy. there is a small parking area on the minor road to the South of the Maughanaclea Hills. A clearly marked path leads down through the trees then splits, follow the path through the pine trees, cross the metal bridge and then about 100 metres the other side of the mealagh River, and you will find it set in a small clearing.
The tomb is open towards the SW and the single capstone seems to mimic the shape of Mullaghmesha to the South. there are remains of the mound to the Northern and Western sides.

This substantial stone stands 2/3 fields, (around 300 metres) to the South West of Gurteen Circle.
I couldn’t for the life of me see an easy way down that didn’t involve lots of gorse and plenty of water. So I had to content myself with a couple of shots from the field up above.
Looking on the National Monument website – it gives the following – 3.8m tall 1.1m wide 1m depth
There must be an easy way. After all, the cows got in there !

A small stone 1.5 metres tall, situated in pasture just to the West of a stream. It’s aligned E-W.
A gate gives good access.

A sad little Stone Row, enclosed within a fence along with dumped concrete pipes.
Take the small lane which turns off by Kilcaskan Church and the row is in a field on the right, on the property of a newly built, but empty house. The landowner gave us permission to jump over the locked gate to go down and have a look.
All three stones are quite small and similar in size and shape. The tallest being 1.05m and the smallest 0.85m.

A fine standing stone 2 metres tall. Possibly one of a stone pair. There is a fallen stone just yards away.

Terrific Stone Pair, situated in wet muddy field adjacent to a minor road and just a short distance SE of Cappaleigh North standing Stone.
From Cappaleigh North head East to a crossroads then turn right and park in tightly by the Holy Well on the left. The stones are just yards down to the right.
Again, there are breathtaking views of Bantry Bay and Hungry Mountain.
Set nearly 9 metres apart on a NE-SW alignment. The largest stone is 2.1m x 1.1m x 0.6m and the second stone is 0.95m x 1.05m x 0.32m (measurements from National Monument Survey site).

Small stone situated in a field in the lanes just West of Adrigole. A fieldgate gives easy access.
The stone is just under a metre high and is aligned ENE-WSW.
There are fine views over Bantry Bay and towards Hungry Hill.

Impressive stone over 2 metres high. Easily seen from the main R572 at Gour Bridge about 4 miles West of Castletownbearhaven.
A layby on the opposite side of the road (just past the stone) and a nearby gate gives easy access.

A small three stone alignment, with a fourth stone at right angles with the middle stone.
The row is aligned NNE-SSW and all of the stones are low to the ground and in long grass, making it hard to spot from the road.
There is a gate nearby for access

Have to agree with Cian below, about the offerings, some really weird stuff !
If you’re visiting here, make sure to carry on down the road a little to Kilcatherine Church. There’s a great carved head above the South Door and an underground chamber in the Eastern part of the graveyard.

Situated in a field opposite Rosscarbery Strawberries. Totally surrounded by electric fencing. Presumably to protect it from Cattle. A rectangular block 1.5 metres high. 0.5m wide and 0.5m depth (measurements – National Monument Service website).

Another stone seen from the road as we were driving by. Not a massive stone, at under one and a half metres, it’s wider than it is tall.
Apparently, there are several others on the slopes, on the opposite side of the road.

Situated in a field to the side of the minor road going into Derrynacaheragh (Right hand side if coming from Dunmanway). Not marked on the OS map.
Not the most exciting stone, but worth a stop if you are passing !

Large rectangular standing stone, just under two metres high. It is situated in a field next to a minor road, just off the R584 at Cousane Gap. Easily seen from the main road but doesn’t seem to be marked on the OS map. Terrific views of The Shehy Mountains.

Just two stones remain of a multiple stone circle, thought to contain up to eleven stones.
It is situated in pasture, in the wooded Caha valley. Access is not too difficult, just one barbed wire fence to negotiate !
A lovely peaceful setting.

Situated at the field edge, a fine stone over 3 metres high.