Dooncarton Stone Circle
Location: Dooncarton, Co. Mayo
Classification: Stone Circle
SMR Code: MA004-013----
Rating:
This stone circle lies a few hundred metres outside the village of Dooncarton. There are seven stones left, the tallest of which is about 1.2m (4ft) high. The stones are set in a complex of ancient field walls, on the lower slope of Barnacuille, affording dramatic views over Broadhaven Bay to the Cliffs of Rinroe Point on the opposite headland. 200m to the west are the indefinite remains of a court-tomb.
The name for the area of Dooncarton (Irish: Dún Ceartán, meaning "Cartan's Fort"), comes from an Iron Age tribal chieftain called Ciortan, a character who appears in the Ulster Cycle legend of the Táin Bó Flidhais.
According to the ancient legend, a hero named Fergus came on a plundering raid to Erris which was then owned by the giant Donnell who lived at Glencastle. Fergus came to Donnell's castle at Glencastle where he charmed Donnell's faithless wife, Munchin who gave him Donnell's favourite sword. When Donnell found out that he had been betrayed he went to his neighbour Ciortan (of Dún Chiortáin) for aid but he found Ciortan was out in his boat. He shouted to him to come and help him but Ciortan refused to come to his aid. Donnell hurled rocks at Ciortan's boat in anger and managed to sink it. Ciortan was drowned and he is buried at a Broadhaven Bay harbour known locally as Tra Kirtaan Bay (called after Ciortan) close to Barnatra.
Description
This stone circle lies a few hundred metres outside the village of Dooncarton. There are seven stones left, the tallest of which is about 1.2m (4ft) high. The stones are set in a complex of ancient field walls, on the lower slope of Barnacuille, affording dramatic views over Broadhaven Bay to the Cliffs of Rinroe Point on the opposite headland. 200m to the west are the indefinite remains of a court-tomb.
History
The name for the area of Dooncarton (Irish: Dún Ceartán, meaning "Cartan's Fort"), comes from an Iron Age tribal chieftain called Ciortan, a character who appears in the Ulster Cycle legend of the Táin Bó Flidhais.
Folklore
According to the ancient legend, a hero named Fergus came on a plundering raid to Erris which was then owned by the giant Donnell who lived at Glencastle. Fergus came to Donnell's castle at Glencastle where he charmed Donnell's faithless wife, Munchin who gave him Donnell's favourite sword. When Donnell found out that he had been betrayed he went to his neighbour Ciortan (of Dún Chiortáin) for aid but he found Ciortan was out in his boat. He shouted to him to come and help him but Ciortan refused to come to his aid. Donnell hurled rocks at Ciortan's boat in anger and managed to sink it. Ciortan was drowned and he is buried at a Broadhaven Bay harbour known locally as Tra Kirtaan Bay (called after Ciortan) close to Barnatra.
Accessibility Rating: Easy - Moderate
There are no facilities at this monument
Accessibility
Accessibility Class: Easy - Moderate
Facilities
There are no facilities at this monument
Map
Directions
Weather
Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise: 07:55
Sunset: 16:50
Directions
Weather
Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise: 07:55
Sunset: 16:50
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