An axial stone circle is a particular type of megalithic ring of stones of which many are found in southwest Ireland. Archaeologists have found it convenient to consider axial five-stone circles and axial multiple-stone circles separately – this list is of multiple-stone circles, those with seven stones or more. They have an approximate axis of symmetry aligned in a generally northeast–southwest direction – the stone at the southwest side of the circle, rather than being an upright orthostat like all the rest, rests on the ground with its long axis horizontal. Because it marks the axis it is called the axial stone. It is usually quite thin and it lies with its long thin edge along the circumference of the ring.
Dating from the Bronze Age, axial stone circles when constructed had an odd number of stones with two stones (portal stones) placed on either side of where the axis crosses the northeast side of the ring. They are found in County Cork and County Kerry.
Early in the 20th century they were called recumbent stone circles by analogy with similar examples in Scotland but when it became clear there were substantial differences the term "Cork–Kerry stone circle" was adopted. The term "axial stone circle" has since become frequently used leaving it unclear whether both types or only the multiple type is meant.
has published a comprehensive catalogue of stone circles in the two counties and Burl followed with two books, and , covering a much broader area but still including this type of circle. Ireland's National Monuments Service, part of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, operates a database of archaeology sites and the list in this article covers the sites classified as "stone circle – multiple-stone". The NMS definition is:
Included are 41 sites in County Cork, 15 in County Kerry and a single one in County Clare.
List of axial multiple-stone circles
The map shows the locations of the 56 sites in counties Cork and Kerry (an additional site in County Clare is off the map). All the locations can be displayed dynamically via the OpenStreetMap viewer. Townland SMR No. Ref. Diameter(metre) Num. stonesStatus and classifies the sites as follows 1 (good) = Good, worth visiting; 2 (OK) = Good but restored; 3 (ruin) = Ruined but recognisable; 4 (gone) = Destroyed or unrecognisable; 5 (unc.) = Uncertain.Notes Lat/long Irish Grid Ahagilla CO121-100---- 7 3/? ruin W334436 An Dromaid (Dromod) KE089-053---- (39 8) 4 5/7* ruin V544693 Ardgroom SW CO102-006001- 302 (21 9) 7.3 10/11 good V709553 Ardgroom NE CO102-010---- 302 (20 8) 3/5+ gone V719565 Ballyvackey CO135-005001- (35 3) 8.5 7/9* ruin W344427 Bohonagh CO143-032001- 304 (36 1) 9.9 13 goodexcav. citing W308369 Breeny More CO106-005001- 305 (24 6 14 5+ gone W510553 Cappanaboul CO105-029001- (22 5) 10.5 10/13* ruin W340533 Carrigagrenane (SW) CO134-008---- 308 (33 3) 8.5 13/19 ruin W254432 Carrigagulla (SW) CO049-008---- 310 (4 4) 9 15/17* ruin W371835 Carrigaphooca CO070-035---- (11 4) 5.5 5+ ruin W293735 Cashelkeelty (W) KE108-013001- 344 (47 -) 17 3/11 or 13 goneexcav. citing V747576 Coolaclevane CO082-066---- (13 3) 7.5 9 ruin W287640 Coollick KE058-134---- 10/? good V967989 Coolmountain CO093-013---- (17 8) 9.2 2/11* gone W192608 Coulagh CO114-002---- (25 2) 8.5 5+ gone V632492 Currabeha (S) CO083-109002- (14 2) 7 5/9 or 11 ruin W411643 Currabeha (N) CO083-110---- (15 4) 8.5 13* gone W412640 Curraghodea CL031-052---- R128802 Derreenataggart West CO115-011002- 316 (26 2) 7.7 15* ruin V665463 Derrynafinchin CO092-001001- (16 5) 8 11 or 13 ruin W480622 Doughill KE093-042---- (42 13) 9 0/17* gone V963697 Dromagorteen KE102-032002- 10 13 ruin V959653 Drombeg CO143-051002- (37 1) 9.3 14/17 goodexcav. citing W247352 Drombohilly Upper KE109-003001- 346 (48 2) 8.5 9/11* ruin V790608 Dromkeal CO105-003---- 9 13 ruin W300545 Dromroe KE101-010001- 347 (45 7) 9.5 13/13 ruin V881657 Dunbeacon CO130-030---- 318 (32 1) 8 11 ruin V927392 Garryglass CO120-062---- (27 -) 1/11 gone W223452 Glantane East (SW) CO048-090---- 319 (3 1) 5 11 ruin W281834 Glantane East (NE) CO048-093---- (2 9) 5 6/11 or 13* gone W283841 Gort An Acra CO069-015---- (9 1) 8 13 ruin W205756 Gort An Imill CO069-013---- 320 (10 4) 7.8 9 good W209741 Gorteanish (Ahakista) CO130-016---- 8 11/11 restored V861397 Gortroe CO094-046---- 322 (18 9) 8.5 11* unc. W258605 Gowlane North CO050-008---- (5 3) 6.5 8/9* ruin W484856 Gurteen KE094-021001- 348 (43 7) 10.5 11/11 good W500698 Kealagowlane CO104-027001- 8 11/11 ruin V876523 Kenmare KE093-032001- 349 (41 7) 17x15 15/15 good V907707 Kilboultragh CO059-151---- (7 8) 9 0/11 gone W320757 Killowen KE093-018---- (40 12) 10 0/11 gone V922716 Kilmartin Lower CO050-061001- (6 9) 3.4 6/7 ruin W451824 Knocknaneirk CO095-016---- (19 1) 9.5 7/9* good W371626 Knocks (NW) CO121-063---- (28 3) 9 11* ruin W299456 Knocks (SE) CO121-067---- (29 8) 8.5 5+ gone W302443 Lackaroe KE093-050001- 8 8/13 ruin V958688 Lissard CO042-074001- (1 -) 8 0/5+ gone W583903 Lohart KE101-007001- 351 (44 -) 11 5+ restored V824663 Maughanaclea (NE) CO106-016001- 329 (23 5) 11.5 12/13* ruin W105565 Maulatanvally CO121-057---- 331 (30 4) 9.5 7/11* ruin W263442 Oughtihery (SE) CO060-042---- 334 (8 8) 2.9 5/7* ruin W415801 Readrinagh KE068-085---- 10.7 0/29 gone W940918 Reanascreena South CO134-032---- 335 (34 11) 9.8x9.3 13/13 goodexcav. citing W264411 Shronebirrane KE108-022---- 353 (46 2) 7.5 9/13* ruin V754554 Teergay CO070-108---- 338 (12 3) 7.5 8/9* ruin W291694 Templebryan North CO122-076---- 339 (31 4) 9.5 5/9* ruin W389437 Uragh (SW) KE101-025001- 9.5x7.5 10/11 ruin V825630
See also List of recumbent stone circles
Notes
References Citations
Works cited
General references – excavation of Drombeg – excavation of Bohonagh – excavation of Reanascreena – excavation of Cashelkeelty