Kinneigh and Castlenalact

January 14th 2013

Today, we are heading over to the stone row at Castlenalact which is the other side of Bandon. Instead of going via the N71 though, we are going to go the long way round ! The sky is a moody mixture of blues and greys of every shade, as we head through Dunmanway and on towards the twin villages of Ballineen and Enniskeane. One blends seamlessly into the other as we look for a left turn to take us to Kinneigh and it's famous round tower.

Kinneigh Round Tower

It's really easy to find, as we spot it from the main road and take a small left turn to the church
The tower itself was built sometime in the 11th Century and was part of the monastary founded  here by Saint Mocholmóg, who was the Abbot in the yeat 619.The original monastary was built a little further to the East and was subsequently destroyed by Danish raiders. A new monastary was built around 900 AD near to the present church. Kinneigh is one of only two round towers in Cork and unique in the fact that it is the only one in the whole of Ireland to have a hexagonal base.
It is around 80 foot in height and would have originally had a conical roof. A bell tower was added in the mid 1850's. The bell is now kept in Kinsale for safekeeping !
Jackdaws are calling overhead and circling above the tower and the trees at the back are full of Winter Thrushes..... Redwings and Fieldfares, probably driven Southwards by the bitter cold.

Kinneigh Round Tower

Back in the relative warmth of the car, we thaw out and continue on through Coppeen, then Beal Na Blath, Crookstown and then towards Bandon. We are looking for a turning to Templemartin, which should then take us to Castlenalact.

Clodagh Castle near Crookstown

More by luck than judgement we end up on the right road and see the row in the distance. There's a right hand turn, which takes us down a narrow lane, past a sports field and a standing stone.
The row is in the next field. There is a small abandoned cottage where you can just about park and the access is just so easy.  A short pathway and one strand of electric fence (which wasn't on - luckily !) and there you are at this magnificent monument.

Castlenalact Stone Row

Castlenalact Stone Row

Four massive stones greet us, lined up East to West. The tallest at the Eastern end being a whopping 3.4m (over 11ft).
There is a fallen stone laying towards the Western end of the row. Covered in marks, probably from a plough, it looks more likely to have been put there as field clearance, than to have been an original part of the row.

Castlenalact Stone Row

Castlenalact Stone Row

Castlenalact Stone Row

We head over to the next field (North) to look at the standing stone. It is irregular in shape, wider than it is tall. There is a boulder burial further to the North in the next field, but time is getting on and rain is threatening. We'll leave it for next time !

Castlenalact Stone Row

Standing Stone at Castlenalact

Standing Stone with Castlenalact stone row in the next field

Mist(ical) Cabragh

Cabragh 9th January 2013

 The first real trip out in the new year. The plan is to head up a few miles the other side of Macroom to Cabragh, where there are stones galore (according to the map, anyway !)
The sun is shining and the sky is blue as we set off up the N22.
As we pass Drimoleague and call in to the garage near the lakes, for fuel, the sunshine turns to fog...... thick fog !
Hopefully it'll burn off by the time we get there. It's a pleasant journey nonetheless and soon we are passing through Macroom and heading through Clondrohid, then up the narrow lane to Cabragh. There are at least two stones in the fields to the left, which we will have a look at on the way back.
There's a small cross roads where we park up and I knock at the nearest house to check that it's ok to head on up. The lady doesn't know the stones very well, but says it shouldn't be a problem, so boots on and head up the (very) long track.
There is a stone pair up on the left hand side right on the double bend. The banks are quite high, but I can see the top of one of the stones. This is Clashmaguire stone pair, and unfortunately it is buried in a morass of gorse, brambles and birch saplings.
I stand on the bank, looking and decide to tackle it on the way back down.
Carrying on up the track, Fieldfares and Redwings fly out of the plantations and Ravens call, echoing in the mist. I've a hand drawn map of all the sites which tells me that the first of the rows must be coming up soon and sure enough, there on the hill to the right, looking almost mystical, outlined in the fog is Cabragh stone row.
This is the more Southerly of the two rows and consists of five uprights out of an original six. Aligned East - West, the stones vary in height from 1m to 2.4m, though the fallen stone would have been the tallest at 3.1m.

Cabragh (South) Stone Row

Cabragh (South) Stone Row

There's no gate into the field and the banks are quite high.Instead there's a couple of stones conveniently set, which make it easy to walk up and the fence is easily stepped over. The field is wet and muddy....AND full of sheep, very curious sheep. They follow me around almost comically. Stopping when I stop to look round then following again. They also like to pose for the camera.
I'm really impressed with the row, the mist giving it an almost ethereal feel. It is silent here, just the occasional call of a Meadow Pippit dancing in the air.
Photographs taken, I am followed all the way back to the fence by my woolly retinue.
I step over, jump back down to the lane and check the map.

Cabragh (South) Stone Row

Soon I pass an old abandoned farmhouse on the right. I know that Cabragh circle and the second row are somewhere in the fields beyond.
Just past the farmhouse I make out the old ringfort, so head through the gate into the meadow. There is a stone pair over in the rough field to the left. Carefully, I navigate the barbed wire fence and see the stones.
This is Carrigonirtane stone row (grid ref W275797) and is in fact a three stone row aligned NE-SW, although the middle stone has fallen. None of the stones are particularly big, the tallest being the SW stone, at 0.95m. The ringfort is only about 50 metres to the North West.

Carrigonirtane Stone Row

Carrigonirtane Stone Row

 Back over the barbed wire to the field, there are a couple more gates to hop over before reaching an area of rocky outcrop. I know that I'm near, and I notice the row further on. There's another rickety gate, which takes me into a wet boggy area and then through an overgrown brambly/gorsey field and over to the second of the Cabragh rows.

This one is very impressive ! All of the stones are massive and even the fact that a field hedge has been built through it, can't detract from it's imposing nature.
As the crow flies, it is about 250m East of the Carrigonirtane row and 600m North of the other Cabragh row, though not intervisible.with either.
Aligned NE-SW and nearly 8m in length, the stones vary from 2.35m to 3.3m.
Just 6m to the North and intersected by the same hedge sits the sad remains of Cabragh five stone circle. Just two stones are now visible, with two more, including the axial stone (according to O'Nuallain) incorporated into the field hedge and the fifth one missing altogether. It's a small circle, diameter is c3.2m and is aligned the usual NE-SW.

Cabragh Stone Row

Cabragh Stone Row

Cabragh Stone Row and Circle

Retracing my steps back to and over the rickety gate, I take a look up on the hill, where once stood five more large standing stones. They were mentioned in 1918, but have all since been removed. This surely must have been a very important ritual centre - there was so much here!

Cabragh Stone Circle

Cabragh Stone Circle

Cabragh (North) Stone Row

Time to head back down the lane and try to get a better look at the Clashmaguire pair !
Climbing up onto the bank, I can see that there is just no way through the impenetrable thicket that has grown up here, totally engulfing one of the stones, with the second one surely about to recieve the same fate in the very near future.
I take what photographs I can and head back to the car.

Clashmaguire Stone Pair

We were going to have a look at the stones, which we passed on the way up - on the way back (if that makes sense !)
The first one is a fine single standing stone in Clashmaguire townland. Unfortunately, a rather large German Shepherd is sitting near the field entrance, and even though he has a smile on his face, I'm sure that it's just a ruse to get me out of the car ! Oh well looks like a photo over the hedge for this one !
Last stone of the lane is another single standing stone this one being in Gortnalicky townland.

Clashmaguire

Gortnalicky

We drive back via Inchegeelagh and Bantry....and as we get near to Bantry the blue skies and Sunshine return to replace the mist.......
Another great day out in Cork !

Cabragh (North) Stone Row

Cabragh (North) Stone Row

Hidden Gems at Carrigagulla

Carrigagulla 5 stone circle

It's our first real "stoning" day out for what seems like months. The forecast is OK, but after this Summer any forecast that doesn't mention continual rain would sound good !
We set off in good time. Sandwiches, chocolate and drinks all ready and sorted and we're heading off down our lane and out towards the main road.
Passing through Dunmanway, we get behind the now obligatory slowest driver on the road, occasionally overtaken by the also obligatory lunatic, who wants to overtake the whole line of cars.....blind bends and other cars coming towards us all the better !!
In Macroom, we are looking for the turning off to Ballinagree. Then up a pleasant road until we see the sign pointing left for our first destination - Carrigagulla Stone Circle.
We park up by the magnificent old farmhouse and have a chat with the Farmer who has just driven down the lane in his tractor. He lets us park there and gives directions to the circle, remarking that quite a few people get lost trying to find it !
It's about three quarters of a mile to a mile walk up an old boreen. The directions are to keep on the boreen up the hill and then down the other side to where a small plantation is growing up on the left. Then on the right will be a gate. The circle is in the bottom of this field. Sounds easy !
There are several stones in the fields to the left at the top of the hill, that look old. Some are being used as fence posts. I know that there is an old row up here and I'm going to have a better look on the way back.

The central stone, Carrigagulla Stone Circle

The recumbant stone, Carrigagulla

Heading further down the track, I pass a cross roads and then come to a ford. This doesn't seem right !
After a bit of backtracking, I spot the stones at the bottom of a rushy, marshy looking field. The gate into the field also leads down a narrow muddy boreen, which looks a better bet than trudging through the rushes and it leads down to an old abandoned, ruined farm. It's a magical place.
A step over the small stream which seperates the farm from the field, then its just a 50 yard hop and jump to more solid ground and Carrigagulla Circle - and what a wonderful circle it is. Even though though it's centre has been engulfed in reeds and rushes and the vegetation from the nearby hedgerow is encroaching, it is still in great condition. I count 15 stones still standing - including the low recumbant and the 2 radially set portal stones. A couple of stones have fallen and near the centre lies another. It is aligned just off NE-SW at 245 degrees,which according to Jack Roberts, is for the Cross Quarter.
I take several photo's and admire the extensive views. Carrigagulla NE circle is only about 500 yards away to the North, but impossible to see, because of the forestry.

The Portal stones at Carrigagulla stone circle

Carrigagulla Stone Circle

Carrigagulla Stone Circle

Back through the farm and down to the boreen, where I notice a small post pointing into the field of the stones. I don't know how I missed it on the way ! though in my own defence - it is hidden in the undergrowth !!

The ruined farm at Carrigagulla

Ruined farm at Carrigagulla

The ruined farm at Carrigagulla

Spot the sign!

Further on up the boreen and I'm arriving at the standing stones. There is one obvious standing stone (alongside a fallen stone) in the middle of the field on the right. I think that the two gate/fence posts were part of the row, before ending up in their present positions.

remains of Stone row at Carrigagulla

remains of the stone row at Carrigagulla

Back to the car and off to our next stop - just a few hundred yards further on up the road is a turning into the Coilte forestry plantation. We follow the track until we come to an obvious right hand turn leading to a dead end.
I know that Carrigagulla NE is just down this track and off in the trees somewhere. I have explicit directions (picked up from The Modern Antiquarian site). Seems straightforward. Walk to end of track - go west 120 paces - then North 45 paces into trees and voila !
I get to the end of the track,and then step into what looks like an innocuous little puddle....... seconds later I am knee deep in black, smelly bog water, which is rapidly filling my boots. Not quite what I had in mind, as I pull myself up onto drier land. I now forget my Wests from my Norths and somehow circle back to the car.
Not giving up - its back down the track and then find an obvious dry and easy step over and this time head straight into the trees (right at the corner) and head West. After 100 yards or so I can make out some stones over in a clearing to the right.... and here it is,another magical sight beholds me. Carrigagulla NE five stone circle !  If this circle was just sitting in a field, it would be quite plain. But here in this clearing amongst the conifers it is special -  "a must visit" circle.
Again aligned for the cross quarter (240 degrees - Jack Roberts). All five stones are upright and in good condition.

5 stone circle at Carrigagulla

5 Stone Circle at Carrigagulla

The 5 stone circle at Carrigagulla

I head back out to the track and squelch my way back to the car. After ringing out my socks, we have our packed lunch whilst sitting listening to the birds singing.
Looking at the map, we should have spotted a stone row on the way in and have to wonder how we missed it, it being only yards from the track. It is just so obvious on the return !
Three stones make up the row. One large stone and one very small stone are still standing and another large stone lies fallen. The area has been clearfelled and the row is now fenced off. The fallen stone was damaged in an attempt to protect it when the trees were felled. The machine moving it accidentally dropped it, causing a section to shear off ( http://www.excavations.ie/Pages/Details.php?Year=2003&County=Cork&id=9521 ).

Stone Row at Carrigagulla

Stone Row at Carrigagulla

Next off - we head back out to the main road, taking a right at the bridge and following the lane. We spot Oughtihery five stone Circle in the fields to the left.
There's a farm just along a little... and a large stone set near the entrance lane. Not too sure on this one's antiquity, but it looks impressive standing proud as it does at the roadside.
Luckily the Farmer and his wife are just driving out and I ask them for permission to go over to the circle. Permission granted, though he warns us that the fences are all live !

Roadside Stone

Back to the nearest gateway and trying to work out the easiest way through the absolute myriad of electric fences across the fields. Luckily most are just high enough to be able to roll underneath and eventually the circle is reached.
This one is looking a little neglected. The interior has been used as a dump for all the field clearance stones, which is a shame as the circle itself is in good condition. In the same field, lies the scant remains of a wedge tomb. Several  more electric fences over is the massive 10-12 foot tall Maulmore Standing stone. In fact part of a stone pair - the second being not much more than a mere stump hidden in the long grass.

Oughtihery Stone Circle

Scant remains of the wedge tomb at Oughtihery

Maulmore Stone

Maulmore Stone

Time is getting on now so we head back to the car and carry on down the lane. There's a sign for a "Ring Forte" and Cross Slab, so we have a quick look. Up some steps and into a clearing, This is obviously the ring fort but it is too overgrown to make much sense of and there is no sign of any cross slab !
Can't win them all....... Homeward bound we head, happy. It's been a good day and we've had our stone fix.... until the next time !