Stone Circle

In flat pasture, c. 300m NW of the confluence of the Foherish and Sullane Rivers, and c. 250m NE of Carigaphooca tower house (CO070-034----). Carrigaphooca means ‘stone of the púca’ (ghost or fairy).Three stones survive indicating a stone circle of a diameter of at least 5.5m, however, it is difficult to determine how many stones originally formed the perimeter of the circle. Windele and Conlon mention five stones, four still standing and one lying down (Ó Nualláin 1984a, 15; Conlon 1918, 139). It was described as early as the 18th century as ‘the remains of a druid altar, encompassed with a circle of stones, pitched endways’ (Smith 1750, vol. 1, 182). Based on the evidence Ó Nualláin (Ibid) suggests the circle may have been comprised of seven orthostats, and an internal quartz stone. The tallest stone is to the S of the circle, and it is oriented SSE-NNW (H 2.2m max, Wth 1m max, T 0.2 to 0.4m). Directly facing it to the N is the shortest stone, with the same orientation (H and Wth: 1.1m, T 0.37 to 0.55m). The third standing stone is to the E, and oriented E-W (H 0.85m, Wth 1m max, T 0.2 to 0.3m). Directly to the W of the tallest stone is a reclining stone which was likely part of the circle (L c. 1.2m, Wth c. 0.7m, T c. 0.5-0.6m at the base). There are also at least one other reclining stone that may have part of the monument, though it is not possible to say for certain; it is located within the circle, to the W of the E stone (H 0.7m, L 1.15m, T 0.22m). (O Nualláin 1984a, 15, no. 11) This is a National Monument in State Ownership (no. 255). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Photographs attached: CO070-035----_01: View of stone circle and castle beyond, from E. CO070-035----_02: View of stone circle from N. CO070-035----_03: View of stone circle from NW. CO070-035----_04: View of S-most stone, from N. CO070-035----_05: View of N-most stone, from S. CO070-035----_06: View of E stone, from E. CO070-035----_07: Stone that has fallen down, from W. CO070-035----_08: Possible stone that has fallen down, from N. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009 Date of last revision: 5 July 2023

Likely dating to the Late Neolithic or Bronze Age, the stone circle may have had ritual or ceremonial significance. The name 'Carrigaphooca' suggests a later folklore association with the supernatural, possibly reflecting beliefs in fairies or spirits linked to the landscape.