Athgreany Stone Circle - Piper's Stones (Clocha an Phíobaire)

Athgreany Stone Circle is also known as the Piper's Stones (Irish:Clocha an Phíobaire) and consists of some fourteen stones. There would have been more stones at one time, but over the years, prior to being protected as a monument, some could have been removed to be used for other purposes. Athgreany means “Field of the Sun”. It is thought that the circle was constructed in alignment with the sun. Observation of the Sun’s shadows aligning the boulders to the solar events of Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox. So that this stone circle acted as a calendar. The Solar year being further divided to mark the halfway points between major solar events. This then gives the cross quarter days of Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasadh and Samhain. These are the four major Celtic festivals. The age of cunstruction the Athgreany Circle/Piper's Stones is estimated to be approximately 1400–500 BC.

The site is located in west County Wicklow (Irish: Contae Chill Mhantáin) off the N81, about 3.5 km to the southwest of Hollywood (Irish: Cillín Chaoimhín). The site is signposted.

Links: Visit Wicklow tourist information website.

Image: is courtesy of wikimedia commons from the own work of Rob Hurson. It gives this interesting further information:  "The Piper's Stones at Athgreany, Co. Wicklow. The placename "Athgreany" comes form the Irish name "Achadh Gréine" or "Field of the Sun", which perhaps gives an idea of the original purpose of this stone circle. the hawthorn bush at the left hand side is a so-called "rag bush" - traditionally, a strip of cloth from the clothing of an ill person would be tied to the tree. As the cloth rotted away, the illness would disappear."