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Anciently sacred because horizon shape & cyclical celestial patterns are in useful harmony at this place.

Orange lines mark the annual solar round. Lunistice positions over the 18.6 year lunar nodal cycle are blue. More about the Solar CalendarMore about the Lunar Calendar

mega-what / ancient sacred places / Ireland, West Cork, Reenascreena

Carrigagrenane: Multiple Stone Circle CO134-008

NGR 12541/04322 (IW 25412 ITM 43219 / 51.63709, -9.07806) [Googlemap]

Trajectories 1200BCE. Tap/Click pics for big ones.
Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle is 7km or so north of Rosscarbery. Situated very close under the south-east flank of Carrig Fadda, it has doubled-up radially set portals. There is also a probable fallen monolith south-west of the centre but it is too well buried to guess its original orientation.

Panoramic view with luni-solar trajectories from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland. It is usually quoted as having 19 stones (the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range to the nearest whole number of years) but the structure is unusual. Essentially, the circle consists of an axial-stone, 2 portals and 5 sidestones each side forming what is basically a 13 stone circle. Additionally there is another radially set stone outside each portal and more stones have been inserted in the gaps of the south-east quadrant. These extra stones could be later additions.

South is indicated by the lowest dip [Pic].

North appears to be on a slope but is obscured [Pic].

NE from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland. The reverse axis points up a steep hill to a featureless slope of no obvious significance. However, the layout is interesting. The "exterior portals" splay out as one enters the circle. The north one touches the portal so there is no gap. Between the south one and the circle, there is a gap wide enough to pass through and the stone's axis indicates the space between portal and first sidestone. The line from between these two stones to the axial stone is the true axis of the circle and indicates the lunar maximum in both directions.

E from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland. Vegetation makes the north-east and east unsurveyable except for a small gap in the bushes.

Further south along the horizon, the first feature just visible is a large dip or notch that is about halfway between the equinox and the winter cross-quarter.

SE from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland. From the north-west side of the circle, the extra stones in the south-east perimeter indicate the span of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range. A dip largely obscured by a tree is the minor end of the cycle and the next large dip is a sixteenth beyond the mid­point. A slight dip marks the major eighth and then the major end of the cycle falls at the top of the slope, in a stand of trees. This hilltop is also axially indicated by Reenascreena Stone Circle, which is visible a bit further west along the horizon with a declination of -33.6°. For a hilltop that was targeted by two circles it is now rather poorly defined and one has to wonder whether there was once something rather more obvious there.

SW from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland. SW from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland. It seems to be a characteristic of circles with radially set portals that a line straight between the portal stones indicates a more southerly direction than the line from the portals to the axial stone. Here, the theodolite is fairly accurately central. The first pic is through the portals, the next is from between the south portal and the adjacent sidestone.

SW from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland. The minor end of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range is marked by a notch/step that begins a bland grassy ridge that runs to its almost due south (182°) intersect with further horizons. The circle's orthodox orientation towards this ridge yields a declination of about -31° or so with the lunar limit on the horizon above the north end of the axial stone.

W from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland. Equinoctially to the west is a small hump marking the start of the steep downward swoop of Carrig Fadda's flank. The winter cross-quarters are at the foot of the slope and the halfway point between them is marked by a small hump on the slope.

NW from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland. NW from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland. NW from Carrigagrenane Multiple Stone Circle, Cork, Ireland.

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