Druidical Circle — Boleycarrigeen

Situated in forestry on a low E-W ridge with extensive views to the N, E and S. Known locally as the 'Griddle Stones'. Circular site (int. diam. 13.5m) at present defined by eleven evenly spaced upright stones (1.3-1.8m apart). The entrance (Wth 1.3m) is at the SSW. The stones appear to rise in height from the entrance (H 1.3m) to the tallest stones (H 1.4-1.88m) at the NNE. The circle is on the inner edge of an earthen bank (Wth 1.75m (at the SE) to 2m (at the SW); H 0.4m). There are no stones in the NW quadrant or at E. A tumulus (WI027-040----) lies 75m to the E. Stone circle visited by Lisa Courtney in July 2019, February and August 2020 who described the monument as following. 'The site stands at the highest point of the pass between the Brusselstown Ring (405m) OD to the west and Keadeen Mountain (654m) OD to the east. During the February visit, a low bank ranging in width from 1-2m and 200mm-400mm high could be discerned around the monument. The monument consists of 11 stone uprights with a single small recumbent stone (possible axial stone) located due north. The internal diameter of the site measures 12.5m east-west and 13m north-south. There is regular spacing between the six stones to the southwest of the circle (ranging from 1.0m-1.7m) with the tallest pointed stone located to the northeast (1.7m high, 1.12m wide and 250mm thick). To the south of this stone (1.50m), a partially buried stone was visible in the bank that surrounds the circle, the visible portion of this stone measures 1.10m in length and is approximately 600mm wide and 200mm thick. This may be a fallen stone belonging to this monument. Price (1934) described the stone circle as follows: '45 feet [13.7m] in diameter, and approximately 140 feet [42.6m] in circumference; there are eleven stones standing, and there is the stump of a twelfth stone in the circle, almost level with the ground. The six stones standing on the west side are evenly spaced about 4 feet [1.2m] apart. The stone which stands to the NE of the centre of the circle is 6 feet 3 inches [1.9m] high, the other ten vary from 3 [0.9m] to 4.5 feet [1.4m] in height: the tall stone at the NE is pointed, of regular shape, with a flat inner face, which has natural markings caused by weathering running down it. The stones appear to be of local grit’. Burl noted in his drawing of the stone circle, the remnants of a low bank behind the stones at Boleycarrigeen (Lynch 1979) and describes the site as being surrounded by a substantial bank about 1.8m wide and 0.9m high, making the site an excellent example of an embanked circle, similar to the Castleruddery stone circle (National Monument) which is located over 5km to the northwest. Both these stone circles form part of the Wicklow/ Kildare stone circle group, remarkable for their distinctive regional characteristics, and are the better-known examples in the group (Stout 1994). Burl also records 11 stones and a stump, all of local shale, remaining out of a hypothetical 18 in a 13.9m diameter circle. The stones are evenly spaced approximately 1.2m apart (Burl 1995, 249). This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 106/1940). See attached photos provided by Lisa Courtney The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Lisa Courtney Date of upload/revision: 31 August 2020