Uragh: Multiple Stone Circle & Boulder-Burial KE101-025001,2

Uragh Multiple Stone Circle & Boulder-Burial are in Glen­inchaquin, about 10km south-west of Kenmare, 8km north-east of Lauragh as the crow flies. Signposted (as Boulder Burial) and open to the public (small fee), with parking provided and access via a footpath.

This circle was probably the first monu­ment in the area, high up and relatively easy to clear enough trees to get a view. Ten stones remain of a probable eleven and eight are upright. The portals are radially set (pic right) and the axial is against the bank between two furze bushes. The large boulder-burial was set in the centre by a later group of people who then went on to set a further group of three, slightly further south-west, just visible pic left. More about these other boulder-burials here.

South is in the middle of the high part of a ridge, with the winter solstice sun rising from and setting into dips / steps at either side [Pic].

North is in the middle of a block of distant peaks at the intersect of near and far [Pic].

At the equinox the sun rises from a hilltop and sets into another.

To the north-east, summer cross-quarters and summer solstice are at minor steps while the half-way point between them is at a major one. Major 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 period before / after it are also delimited by minor steps.

The hilltops are both a half-month from the summer cross-quarters and the circle axis points to the northern one i.e. a half-month before Lughnasadh [Pic].

Eastwards, the equinox is on a hilltop with both equinox / cross-quarter midpoints at minor breaks. The dip to the left of the equinoctial hill is a half-month before autumn equinox while the one to the right of it is a half-month before Samhain.

The south-eastern profile is a steep slope. The bottom is a half-month from the winter cross-quarters which are at a break in the slope. The winter solstice sun rises from a dip just before the highest part. The top of the steep part, as the ridge begins to level out is half-way between them.

To the south-west is a hill. Its top marks the winter cross-quarters and a secondary top is a half-month north of them. A steep step in the south slope is a half-month south of the cross-quarters and the winter solstice sun sets at the basal step.

The boulder-burial axis is a half-month north of the winter cross-quarters (before Samhain) [Pic].

Equinox sunset is marked by a low hilltop and the basal steps are a quarter-month from it. The half-month to the north is on a small hump but the half-month to the south is in a dip and indicated by the circle axis [Pic]. North of the equinox the slope, which is quite local, becomes much smoother and features much smaller.

The north-western lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range is largely obscured.

• Uragh Five Stone Circle & Standing Stone are c.800m north-east (55°)
• Cooryeen Boulder-Burials & Standing Stone are c.1.4km north-east (63°)
• Drombohilly Stone Circle is c.4km south-west (236°)

Technical Notes | Top

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References

• Archaeological Survey of Ireland, record details. www.archaeology.ie/archaeological-survey-ireland
• BYRNE, ELIZABETH et al. 2009 Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry, Volume I: South-West Kerry. Dublin: Stationary Office. p20, no.76; p25, no.101.
• RUGGLES, C.L.N. 1999 Astronomy in Prehistoric Britain and Ireland. Newhaven & London: Yale University Press. No.ASC24a.
• TWOHIG, ELIZABETH 1987 Two stone circles at Uragh, Co. Kerry. Journal of the Kerry Archaeological & Historical Society 20:111-118.