Clodagh: Five Stone Circle and Standing Stone Pair CO120-001002 & 1

Clodagh Five Stone Circle & Standing Stone Pair are north of Drimoleague, between Castle Donovan and Dunmanway. They lie on a broad level area of the lower slopes of Milane Hill which occupies the eastern and southern horizons.

The circle axis indicates a double peaked hill, framed by nearer ground, which marks out the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range. Concealed by the hedge in this photo are both the lunar minor eighth at a step in the south slope and the minor end of the cycle at / just beyond the intersect of hillslope and nearer ground. The distant hill's north intersect notch is the major eighth and then the pointed first hump on the nearer ridge marks the major end of the cycle.

Inset is a picture of the moon rising with an apparent declination of about 27.6°. It was taken on 18th November 2005 and was clear enough that the shape of the rock could be accurately fitted.

South is somewhere on the western side of Milane Hill [Pic].

North is on another hilltop [Pic].

Green lines approximate hidden horizon segments.

The east and south-east are obscured.

To the south-west, the axis of the stone pair indicates a slight hump on a nearby slope that marks the half-month bracket for the winter solstice. This view has since been lost in the trees.

The north-east axis of the stone pair is beyond the lunar maximum but, from its position, declinations to the north-east are about half a degree less than from the circle. This makes for some useful differences but it is clear that the circle occupies the better place.

The far south-west is obscured by growing trees, but the winter cross-quarter position is visible at the northern base of some distant hills. Its quarter-month bracket is just north of the main intersect notch, then the half-month bracket is at the western end of a hill with the equinox /cross-quarter mid­point at the east end.

Westwards, the hills, though less than perfectly placed are quite useable.

In the north-west, the cross-quarter is on the hump at the foot of a high hill. The minor end of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range is then on the flat part before the slope. The major eighth is at the top of the slope, then the major end of the cycle is at the north end of the flat hilltop. The slope is rocky, and rugged enough to provide other markers.

• Another Standing Stone Pair is 200m north (16°)
• Cullenagh Five Stone Circle is 2.0km north (350°)
• Inchybegga Five Stone Circle is 11.3km west (248°)
• Lettergorman Five Stone Circle is 11.7km east (111°)

Technical Notes | Top

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References

• Archaeological Survey of Ireland, record details. www.archaeology.ie/archaeological-survey-ireland
• Ó'NUALLÁIN, SEÁN 1975 The Stone Circle Complex of Cork and Kerry. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 105:83-131, no.56.
• Ó'NUALLÁIN, SEÁN 1984 A Survey of Stone Circles in Cork and Kerry. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 84c:1-77, p43, no.88.
• Ó'NUALLÁIN, SEÁN 1988 Stone Rows in the South of Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 88c:179-256, p247, no.131.
• POWER, D. et al. 1992 Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Volume 1: West Cork. Dublin: Stationary Office. p40:no.178, p24:no.68.