May / Aug Cross Quarter Sun-rise
Site Type: Stone Circle
Irish Grid Ref: R6325940412
Location: Link to Bing Maps
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| The sun shining past Crom Dubh into the circle during the Summer Solstice |
Description:
This stone circle is described on wikipedia as follows;
"The stone circle comprises a ring of continuous uprights up to 2.8m high, with a diameter of 45m and backed by an earthen bank 9m wide and about 1.2m tall. The entrance on the eastern side is paved and flanked by uprights. Clay has been packed down to a depth of 60 cm across the whole area of the enclosure. On excavation it was found to be littered with late Neolithic Beaker pottery, which seemed to have been deliberately smashed. Its near perfect shape and the discovery of a posthole in the very center of the enclosure, indicates that the circle was measured out from a central stake with a rope. Twelve large orthostats have been placed at intervals around the stone ring, each standing directly opposite one of the other 'axial' stones. The stones are contiguous rather than free-standing, and the surrounding bank makes it look more like a form of henge monument than a conventional stone circle. This embankment and the precise arrangement of orthostats suggest that this site had a ritual purpose.
It is the largest standing stone circle in Ireland, 150 feet in diameter and enclosed by 113 standing stones. The largest stone is Rannach Chruim Duibh (Crom Dubh's Division) and is over 13 feet high and weighs 40 tons. The stone circle is aligned with the rising sun at the Summer Solstice on the morning of which the sun shines down directly in the center of the circle. The entrance stones are matched by a pair of equally impressive slabs on the southwest side, whose tops slope down towards each other to form a v-shape. During excavations no structures were found but two hearths, a few un-burnt human bones, some animal bones (mainly cattle), some bronze materials and numerous Neolithic pottery pieces were discovered.
A short distance to the north-north east of the main stone circle, is a second smaller circle, also constructed of large stones. To the north of this is a large leaning standing stone)"
This is the largest intact stone circle in Ireland and you could create another website just based on the complex at Lough Gur. It is thought that an even bigger circle existed just to the north of it (Plan of destroyed circle). The circle is adjacent to the road and the owner of the field in which it sits (Mr Tim Casey) is a nice gentleman who allows access for a small contribution. In return he often offers himself as a tour guide and it is from him that I first learned of the summer solstice alignment over Crom Dubh back in about 2001. It has been suggested that it is a kind of proto axial circle with the two large entrance stones being the portal and the "bull horn" stones being the recumbent. The sun sets behind the "bull horn" stones on the Nov - Feb cross quarter day and is suspected to rise between the portal stones on the May - Aug cross quarter day.
Links to photographs;
Picture of the setting-sun on the Nov - Feb cross quarter day by Derek Ryan Bawn
Picture of the sun rising over Crom Dubh on the summer solstice by Derek Ryan Bawn
Links for further information;
loughgur.com
