Grange Stone Circle, viewed 1811 times

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grange stone circle, lough gur, ballyhoura, county limerick
  • grange stone circle, lough gur, ballyhoura, county limerick
  • grange stone circle, lough gur, ballyhoura, county limerick
  • grange stone circle, lough gur, ballyhoura, county limerick
  • grange stone circle, lough gur, ballyhoura, county limerick
  • grange stone circle, lough gur, ballyhoura, county limerick
  • grange stone circle, lough gur, ballyhoura, county limerick

Located 300m west of Lough Gur is Grange, one of the most impressive stone circles in Ireland. Its near perfect shape, together with a posthole found in the very center of the enclosure, indicates that the circle was measured out from a central stake with a rope. The ring is made up of 113 contiguous standing stones, with an internal diameter of approximately 46m.

The entrance stones are matched by a pair of equally impressive slabs on the southwest side, whose tops slope down towards each other to form a v-shape. It has been calculated that these stones and the entranceway were aligned with the sunset on the festival of Samain in early November.

Grange is unique in most aspects. Its orthostats are contiguous rather than free-standing, and the surrounding bank makes it look more like a form of henge monument than a conventional stone circle. This embankment and the precise arrangement of orthostats suggest that this site had a ritual purpose. In fact, parallels have been drawn to some of Britain’s ritual henges, such as Woodhenge, that likewise align their features with solar and lunar events. Grange suggests a high degree of social organization for those who built and utilized it.

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    The Old Bank B&B - 22 Feb

    Sunday morning tour 11am at lough Gur lake front not to be missed after a night of rest and relaxation in our luxgury jacuzzi ensuite rooms from €35pp for B&B