Stonehenge has become way over commercialized lately, I'm told, since Jan saw it in the 60's. Now you have to fight crowds and then you can't get very close to it anyway. We learned of a stone circle not far from where we were staying in Adare. With no little trepidation, since the proprietor of the B&B was a native and had gotten lost trying to find it, we set out in search of the Grange Stone Circle.
From Wikipedia: Grange stone circle (Lios na Gráinsí or Fort of the Grange) 300m west of Lough Gur in County Limerick, Ireland, is situated beside the Limerick-Kilmallock road, 4 km north of Bruff. The stone circle comprises a ring of continuous uprights up to 2.8m high, with a diameter of 45m and backed by an earthen bank 9m wide and about 1.2m tall. The entrance on the eastern side is paved and flanked by uprights. Clay has been packed down to a depth of 60 cm across the whole area of the enclosure. On excavation it was found to be littered with late Neolithic Beaker pottery, which seemed to have been deliberately smashed. Its near perfect shape and the discovery of a posthole in the very centre of the enclosure, indicates that the circle was measured out from a central stake with a rope. Twelve large orthostats have been placed at intervals around the stone ring, each standing directly opposite one of the other 'axial' stones. The stones are contiguous rather than free-standing, and the surrounding bank makes it look more like a form of henge monument than a conventional stone circle. This embankment and the precise arrangement of orthostats suggest that this site had a ritual purpose.
It is the largest standing stone circle in Ireland, 150 feet in diameter and enclosed by 113 standing stones. The largest stone is Rannach Chruim Duibh (Crom Dubh's Division) and is over 13 feet high and weighs 40 tons. The stone circle is aligned with the rising sun at the Summer Solstice on the morning of which the sun shines down directly in the centre of the circle. The entrance stones are matched by a pair of equally impressive slabs on the southwest side, whose tops slope down towards each other to form a v-shape. During excavations no structures were found but two hearths; a few un-burnt human bones, some animal bones (mainly cattle), some bronze materials and numerous Neolithic pottery pieces were discovered.
We actually found it with no problem, and even had it totally to ourselves for 20 minutes...
You gotta love these magic circles!
We put on our 'good' casual clothes and had high tea at the Palace of Lord and Lady Dunhaven. The Lord had gout and, to distract him, the Lady had him build her a palace. It kept him occupied for 30 years! We learned that the Palace is now also a hotel, with rates from %600 per night to well over $2,000. We were quite happy at Emsley House with Bridie cooking our breakfasts, but we did partake of an overpriced 'High Tea' at the Palace. Having been late to reserve, we were put at the last available table, a low height children's table.
May the road rise up to meet us....
(Not literally since we're flying!)
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