Discover the magic and mystery of this 3,000 year old monument from the early Bronze Age.
Untouched by man and held sacred in the town of Kenmare.
This Stone Circle lies in the town of Kenmare, not far from Cromwell’s Bridge. Unlike any other ring in Munster, this one is egg shaped.
It is one of the largest Stone Circles in South West Ireland measuring 17.4 x 15.8m (56 x 49ft). Stone Circles were built during the Bronze Age (2,200 – 500 B.C.), believed to be for ritual and ceremonial purposes. They were often orientated on certain solar and lunar events, such as the position of the sun on the horizon on a solstice. The Kenmare Stone Circle is composed of 15 heavy boulders. At the centre is an impressive Boulder-Dolmen with a giant capstone (2m x 1.8m ). It is unclear as to what the meaning of this monument is, however we do know that Dolmens often marked the burial place of someone important, such as a druid. (hence the local name, “The Druid’s Circle). This style of burial appears to be restricted to the South Munster area, with apparently just one elsewhere in Ireland. The weight of this capstone must be almost seven tons and at least 30 labourers would have been needed to drag it into position.
Hawthorn Fairy Tree
Strongly associated with the Irish festival of Lá Bealtaine, which heralds the beginning of summer on the 1st May, folklore would say the Hawthorn tree has magical qualities.
Aerial view of Kenmare Stone Circle, photo courtesy of Frank Coyne, Aegis Archaeology
Introducing the Stone Circle Cafe
We are delighted to introduce our coffee dock stocked daily with artisan coffee and freshly baked treats!
Heritage Site
We rely on your donations to continue with the upkeep and maintenance of the access path and surrounding grounds. Whilst we have a small admission fee of €2 via an onsite Honesty Box, we gladly accept any donations you would like to make. Please click on the link below to contribute to the maintenance & preservation of the site.