Kenmare Stone Circle:

Known locally as the 'The Shruberries' this circle lies in the town of Kenmare itself, that said it can be difficult to find. (first find the tourist office and work from there).

The Kenmare stone circle is one of the largest stone circles in south West Ireland measuring 17.4 x 15.8m (56 x 49ft) and unlike any other ring in Muster, this one is egg-shaped. Stone Circles were built during the bronze age ( 2,200 – 500 B.C.) believed to be for ritual and ceremonial purposes. They were often orientated on certain solar and lunar events , such as the position of the sun on the horizon on a solstice. The Kenmare stone circle is composed of 15 heavy boulders, At the centre is an impressive Boulder-Dolmen with a giant capstone (2m x 1.8m ). Dolmen's often marked the burial place of someone important. This style of burial appears to be restricted to the south Munster area, with apparently just one elsewhere in Ireland.