Glanbrack Stone Circle & Standing Stone Pair are around 4km south of Ballingurteen, on level ground, south of a ridge crest.
The axial and both sidestones of an apparent five-stone circle remain, its axis at about 206° yielding declinations of around +35° / -34°.
South is indicted by a dip between two hills [Pic].
![[Pic].](Glanbrack-S.jpg){kind=link}
North is at a break on an undulating ridge [Pic].
![[Pic].](Glanbrack-N.jpg){kind=link}
Two hills are very prominent to the north-east.
The south top is a half-month bracket for the solstice (lower limb), the notch between the hills is the same (upper limb) and also the lunar midpoint (centre disc).
The north top is marginally beyond the summer solstice upper limb. At the north base of this hill is the major eighth and the lunar limit is on top of the next low hill.
The southern foot of the south hill is a half-month from the cross-quarter, the bottom of a wide dip is a quarter-month from it and the cross-quarter itself is on the next hilltop.
The two stones of the pair are a short distance to the west and south-west of the circle.
They are classified as anomalous because the stone axes are in a generally south-west direction while the pair axis is more east/west.
The pair's axis (view inset) indicates the half-month south of the equinox, in a dip in some far horizon that is visible between two nearer hills.
The northern part of this eastern horizon was not surveyed.
The sidestones and axial of the circle indicate a short stretch of sea horizon. The winter cross-quarters are in the middle of it with the sea/land intersects at either side being a quarter-month from it.
To the south-east the minor end of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more.
range is at the beginning of the land and of a long slope and the major lunar limit is marked by a small but distinct notch.
Between them some gentle undulations are usefully employed.
To the south-west a house interferes with the view, occupying declinations between -25° and -28°.
Just south of this, hills on a distant horizon mark the major end of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more.
range.
The axis of the circle indicates a wide dip on a relatively featureless section of horizon and declinations in the low thirties.
The southern slopes of Carrig Fadda are well used. The solstitial half-month bracket and a lunar sixteenth are on top of a rise then the solstice / cross-quarter midpoint is in a dip.
The cross-quarter itself is at a mid-slope break with its southern half-month at the basal break and the upper limb of its northern quarter-month just reaching the cross crowned subsidiary hilltop.
The basal break is also the lunar thirtysecondth that delimits the minor end of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more.
range.
The long undulating ridge north of Carrig Fadda offers some utility that is perhaps most accurate around the equinox.
The quarter-month bracket for the summer cross-quarters are on a nearer hilltop.
In this view from the circle, the northern stone of the pair is visible in its correct position to the left.
Further right are insets showing the axis of the pair and the axis of the circle's sidestones, neither of which seem to be of great significance.
The first intersect notch of a more distant north-west horizon accurately marks the summer cross-quarter.
The next notch again is the minor standstillLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range
and the following hilltop is the northern quarter-month bracket for the cross-quarter.
The west base of Nowen Hill is a minor eighth and the notch at the hill's east base is a half-month bracket for the cross-quarter.
The far horizon then intersects with a nearer pair of forested hills and the summer solstice is on the first hilltop.
Similar use of a long slope in the south-east quadrant may be seen at Cullomane East and Coorleigh South.
Other anomalous Standing Stone pairs of the same type are Cullomane East and Cappagh More.
Nearby Stone Pairs are Knockawaddra and Sarue (unsurveyed).
This site lies between the Multiple Stone Circles of Maulatanvally and Knocks.
Nearby Five Stone Circles are Carrigagrenane and Lettergorman.
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.64.
- Ó'NUALLÁIN, SEÁN 1984 A Survey of Stone Circles in Cork and Kerry. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 84c:1-77, p44, no.90.
- Ó'NUALLÁIN, SEÁN 1988 Stone Rows in the South of Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 88c:179-256, p251, no.170.
- POWER, D. et al. 1992 Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Volume 1: West Cork. Dublin: Stationary Office. p24:no.74, p43:no.207.