List of axial multiple-stone circles


An axial stone circle is a particular type of megalithic ring of stones of which many are found in southwest Ireland. Archaeologists have found it convenient to consider axial five-stone circles and axial multiple-stone circles separately – this list is of multiple-stone circles, those with seven stones or more. They have an approximate axis of symmetry aligned in a generally northeast–southwest direction – the stone at the southwest side of the circle, rather than being an upright orthostat like all the rest, rests on the ground with its long axis horizontal. Because it marks the axis it is called the axial stone. It is usually quite thin and it lies with its long thin edge along the circumference of the ring.
Dating from the Bronze Age, axial stone circles when constructed had an odd number of stones with two stones placed on either side of where the axis crosses the northeast side of the ring. They are found in County Cork and County Kerry.
Early in the 20th century they were called recumbent stone circles by analogy with similar examples in Scotland but when it became clear there were substantial differences the term "Cork–Kerry stone circle" was adopted. The term "axial stone circle" has since become frequently used leaving it unclear whether both types or only the multiple type is meant.
has published a comprehensive catalogue of stone circles in the two counties and Burl followed with two books, and, covering a much broader area but still including this type of circle. Ireland's National Monuments Service, part of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, operates a database of archaeology sites and the list in this article covers the sites classified as "stone circle – multiple-stone". The NMS definition is:
Included are 41 sites in County Cork, 15 in County Kerry and a single one in County Clare.

List of axial multiple-stone circles

The map shows the locations of the 56 sites in counties Cork and Kerry. All the locations can be displayed dynamically via the OpenStreetMap viewer.
TownlandSMR No.Ref.Diameter
Num. stonesStatus
Notes
Lat/longIrish Grid
AhagillaCO121-100----73/?ruinW334436
An Dromaid KE089-053----
45/7*ruinV544693
Ardgroom SWCO102-006001-302
7.310/11goodV709553
Ardgroom NECO102-010----302
3/5+goneV719565
BallyvackeyCO135-005001-
8.57/9*ruinW344427
BohonaghCO143-032001-304
9.913good
excav.
W308369
Breeny MoreCO106-005001-305
10.510/13*ruinW340533
Carrigagrenane CO134-008----308
8.513/19ruinW254432
Carrigagulla CO049-008----310
915/17*ruinW371835
CarrigaphoocaCO070-035----
5.55+ruinW293735
Cashelkeelty KE108-013001-344
173/11 or 13gone
excav.
V747576
CoolaclevaneCO082-066----
7.59ruinW287640
CoollickKE058-134----10/?goodV967989
CoolmountainCO093-013----
9.22/11*goneW192608
CoulaghCO114-002----
8.55+goneV632492
Currabeha CO083-109002-
75/9 or 11ruinW411643
Currabeha CO083-110----
8.513*goneW412640
CurraghodeaCL031-052----R128802
Derreenataggart WestCO115-011002-316
7.715*ruinV665463
DerrynafinchinCO092-001001-
811 or 13ruinW480622
DoughillKE093-042----
90/17*goneV963697
DromagorteenKE102-032002-1013ruinV959653
DrombegCO143-051002-
9.314/17good
excav.
W247352
Drombohilly UpperKE109-003001-346
8.59/11*ruinV790608
DromkealCO105-003----913ruinW300545
DromroeKE101-010001-347
9.513/13ruinV881657
DunbeaconCO130-030----318
811ruinV927392
GarryglassCO120-062----
1/11goneW223452
Glantane East CO048-090----319
511ruinW281834
Glantane East CO048-093----
56/11 or 13*goneW283841
Gort An AcraCO069-015----
813ruinW205756
Gort An ImillCO069-013----320
7.89goodW209741
Gorteanish CO130-016----811/11restoredV861397
GortroeCO094-046----322
8.511*unc.W258605
Gowlane NorthCO050-008----
6.58/9*ruinW484856
GurteenKE094-021001-348
10.511/11goodW500698
KealagowlaneCO104-027001-811/11ruinV876523
KenmareKE093-032001-349
17x1515/15goodV907707
KilboultraghCO059-151----
90/11goneW320757
KillowenKE093-018----
100/11goneV922716
Kilmartin LowerCO050-061001-
3.46/7ruinW451824
KnocknaneirkCO095-016----
9.57/9*goodW371626
Knocks CO121-063----
911*ruinW299456
Knocks CO121-067----
8.55+goneW302443
LackaroeKE093-050001-88/13ruinV958688
LissardCO042-074001-
80/5+goneW583903
LohartKE101-007001-351
115+restoredV824663
Maughanaclea CO106-016001-329
11.512/13*ruinW105565
MaulatanvallyCO121-057----331
9.57/11*ruinW263442
Oughtihery CO060-042----334
2.95/7*ruinW415801
ReadrinaghKE068-085----10.70/29goneW940918
Reanascreena SouthCO134-032----335
9.8x9.313/13good
excav.
W264411
ShronebirraneKE108-022----353
7.59/13*ruinV754554
TeergayCO070-108----338
7.58/9*ruinW291694
Templebryan NorthCO122-076----339
9.55/9*ruinW389437
Uragh KE101-025001-9.5x7.510/11ruinV825630

Works cited

*

General references

  • – excavation of Drombeg
  • – excavation of Bohonagh
  • – excavation of Reanascreena
  • – excavation of Cashelkeelty