Stone circles

The ancients left them here. They are mysterious. How were they built? Why? They are just beginning to answer these and questions we don't even know to ask...

Drombeg Stone Circle, County Cork:

Thistles and brambles along the road.

I followed friends.

On a low hill with fields surrounding...

DH walks towards the portal stones.*

These stones are big - weathered - lichen covered.

Fields in the distance.

DH lines up the stones with a cleft in a nearby ridge.

People gather in the circle...

...then they leave.

A small rock outcropping allowed for photos - two Romanians and I waited until all the people walked away.

Another, a closer look.

The honeysuckle was prepared to bloom.

Wildflowers remaining to be identified.** [Navelwort - really, that's the name]

More Navelwort - now that I know, I want to say it over and over.

Navelwort and brambles.

Fuchsia

Kenmare Stone Circle, County Kerry:

We were here in 2007. It was a difficult journey. We finally found our way and saw the circle.

We were surprised to find ourselves in this town again - stopping for lunch. On this day we stepped off the bus into the town square. It was a market day and vendors were lined up. We looked around and saw the sign. Once again we walked down the narrow village road to the field on the edge of town.

The sign.

The circle is big - hard to photograph.

A prayer tree.

Intentions, messages are tied on with string.

We left a prayer.

I kept trying...

Finally.

And another.

Lichen.

Flowers grow at the base.

A cleft in a rock.

People were walking a dog near a stream below the slight hill holding the circle.

Ferns grew near the boundary fence.

Hydrangea marked the gate.

NOTES:

*A propos of nothing, one of the folks traveling with us asked me if I dress him, he's so color-coordinated. I laughed.

**I purchased a book and will return to it.


More on STONE CIRCLES:

Stone circles: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/8/5/1116969/-Ancient-Ireland-Stone-Circles

Drombeg (aka The Druid's Altar) is oriented towards the mid-winter solstice. "The stone circle consists of seventeen closely spaced stones spanning 9.3 metres (31 ft) in diameter, of which 13 survive." source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drombeg_stone_circle
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Drombeg_Stone_Circle.jpg

It is a recumbent stone circle. Apparently the Irish recumbent stone circles have one recumbent stone (stone lying on its side) with two portal stones opposite the recumbent stone (whereas Scottish recumbent stone circles have two tall stones on each side of the recumbent stone. Thank heavens for Wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_circle

Kenmare Stone Circle (aka The Shrubberies) is larger in diameter than Drombeg (56x49 feet) and contains 15 large boulders although the boulders are smaller than those at Drombeg. It is unusual in that it is egg-shaped.  A burial site may be contained in the center. http://www.theringofkerry.com/kenmare-stone-circle

http://irelandsholywells.blogspot.com/2014/01/saint-brigids-well-liscannor-county.html

Finally, a comment:  Upon hearing DH and I visited the Kenmare circle, one of our fellow travelers said, "Seen one stone circle, seen 'em all." Well, that is just not so. And I don't mind revisiting this or other archaeologic/historic sites (as you can see from this trip). A visit to a stone circle or standing stone (or other antiquity) is a sobering thing for me. I am reminded of my mortality as well as my connection with those who came before - creating these and other wonders - and those who are to come. Yeah. That was the thought I suppose I was seeking. We are all connected. I like to be reminded.