An axial five-stone circle is a particular type of megalithic ring of five stones of which many are found in southwest Ireland. These circles 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 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.
There are two types of axial stone circle, one type with five stones, listed here, and axial multiple-stone circles, with seven stones or more, listed at List of axial multiple-stone circles. Dating from the Bronze Age, these 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 this type of circle was called a recumbent stone circle by analogy with similar examples in Scotland but when it became clear there were substantial differences the term "Cork–Kerry stone circle" was used for both types until later the term "axial stone circle" became commonly used.
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 – five-stone". The NMS definition is:
Included are 56 sites in County Cork and three in County Kerry.
List of axial five-stone circles
The map shows the locations of the 56 sites in counties Cork and Kerry. 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 An Lománach MhórLumnagh More CO069-076---- - 2.1 5/5 W142753 Ballyvouskill CO048-056---- none C5 3.5 5/5 ruin W254849 Baurgorm (N) CO118-044002- 303A C6a(85 16) 2.6 5/5 ruin W023469 Baurgorm (S) CO118-042---- 303B C6b(86 15) 2.6x2.5 5/5 ruin W015459 Bellmount Upper (N) CO083-118---- none C7a(73 15) 4 5/5 gone W429642 Bellmount Upper (S) CO083-117---- none C7b(74 15) 3.9 5/5 gone W427641 Cabragh CO059-015002- none C11(63 18) 3.2 4/5 ruin W278798 Canrooska CO090-006002- none C12(76 20) 2.4 4/5 ruin V935582 Cappaboy Beg (NW) CO092-004---- 306 C13a(77 15) 2.3x1.8 5/5 ruin W081612 Carrigagrenane (NE) CO121-054---- 308 C15a(91 18) 4/5 ruin W259436 Carrigagulla (NE) CO049-007---- 309 C16a(56 15) 3 2+/5 ruin W372838 Carriganimmy CO048-097001- 311 C17(55 16) 3.3 5/5 good W292826 Carriganine CO070-092---- none C18(69 18) 5/5 unc. W325719 Carrigonirtane CO059-011---- none C20 2.8 4/5 ruin W285806 Cashelkeelty (E) KE108-013004- 344 K1b (93 17) 1.5 3/5 ruin V748575 Clodagh CO120-001002- 312 C21(88 18) 2.7 5/5 good W153499 Cloghboola Beg CO048-080002- 313 C22(53 19) 3.9x2.8 5/5 ruin W305852 Cloghboola More CO048-025001- none C23(52 15) 3.1 4/5 ruin W275869 Cousane CO092-051---- 314 C27(79 15) 3.2x2.4 5/5 good W112567 Cullenagh CO107-024---- none C28 2/5 ruin W150519 Cullomane East CO118-073001- 315 C29(84 15) 3.9x3.4 5/5 good W036453 Derryarkane CO106-019---- none C34 3 5/5 good W051536 Dromatouk KE093-087---- 345 K4(92 15) 2.7 5/5 good V949711 Dromgarriff South CO051-153---- none C37(60 23) 3 0/5 gone W623822 Dromgarvan CO116-006---- none C38(83 15) 3x2.4 5/5 ruin V808501 Glanbrack CO121-059001- none C42(90 16) 2.8 3/5 ruin W271444 Glenleigh CO039-097---- none C45(50 15) 3.4 4/5 ruin W318903 Glenreagh CO021-060---- none C46(49 16) 3.5 4/5 ruin R189033 Gort Na TiobratanGortnatubbrid CO058-029---- none C51(61 15) 2.4 4/5 ruin W193758 Grenagh South CO051-103---- none C54(59 23) 5 0/5 gone W568840 Illane CO092-016001- none C55(78 20) 2.7x2.3 5/5 ruin W045595 Inchireagh CO107-012---- none C56(82 17) 3x2.4 5/5 ruin W189563 Inchybegga CO119-032---- none C57(87 17) 3x2.7 4/5 ruin W048460 Kealkill CO106-006001- 323 C59(81 20) 2.8x2.5 5/5 good W053555 Kilmeedy West (E) CO039-242---- - 1.6 4/5 W245885 Kilmeedy West (W) CO047-005---- none C62 3.5 3/5 ruin W238881 Knockantota North CO051-018---- none C63 0/5 gone W558875 Knockavullig (N) CO071-106---- none C65a(71 17) 2.4x2.3 0/5 gone W429704 Knockavullig (S) CO071-068---- none C65b(72 17) 3.2 5/5 ruin W428702 Knocknakilla CO048-095002- 324 C66(54 19) 2.7 5/5 good W297842 Knocknaneirk (NE) CO083-085002- none C67a(75 16) 3.9x3.1 5/5 good W370631 Knockraheen CO059-023002- 325 C68(62 18) 4.1x3.6 5/5 good W304801 Laharankeal CO060-137---- none C37(64 17) 1.5 5/5 ruin W394772 Leckaneen CO061-084---- none C72(66 17) 3.5 5/5 ruin W440768 Lettergorman (SW) CO121-035---- 326 C73b(89 17) 3.1x2.8 5/5 ruin W262455 Lissacresig CO070-016---- 328 C74(r 17) 3.6x3 5/5 good W270752 Maughanaclea centre CO106-014001- none C76a 2.6x2.2 5/5 ruin W089562 2.9x2.7 W 390 821}} Pluckanes North CO051-043001- none C80([https://www.js Mill Little CO105-004004- 332 C78(80 18) 3.1x2.4 5/5 ruin V989566 Oughtihery (NW) CO049-029---- 333 C79b(57 17)tor.org/stable/25506112?seq=33 58] 22) 3.7x3.2 0/5 gone W535845 Ré Na Ndoirí Reananerre CO069-026---- 336 C81(67 17) 2.6x1.9 5/5 good W203729 Rosnascalp CO071-100---- none C83(70 17) 3 5/5 ruin W381707 Rylane CO061-001---- 337 C84(65 16) 3.7x2.9 5/5 good W438813 Trawlebane CO119-005---- none C87 2.4 5/5 ruin W042477 Tullig CO048-044---- none C88(51 none) 0/5 gone W309876 Uragh (NE) KE101-012001- none K19a 2.5x2.4 5/5 V831634
See also List of recumbent stone circles
Notes
References Citations
Works cited
Further reading – excavation of Kealkill – excavation of Cashelkeelty