Beltany stone circle

About

Beltany is a Bronze Age stone circle just south of Raphoe town in County Donegal, Ireland. It dates from circa 2100-700 BC. There is evidence that it may also have been the sacred site of Neolithic monuments, possibly early passage tombs.

It overlooks the now destroyed passage tomb complex at Kilmonaster and Beltany is dominated by Croghan Hill to the east on the summit of which there sits a Neolithic mound most likely a passage tomb (though never excavated). Today Beltany is 145 feet across and has 64 stones (originally there would have been at least 80 stones) of varying height and width enclosing an earthen platform. The stones are large with some more than 6 feet in height.

The centre is greatly disturbed and most likely was the result of digging by locals in the 1700s for available loose stones to build farmsteads and field boundaries. This evidence was given orally to the Ordnance Survey field officers in 1830s which is written into the OS records. It states that locals recalled the removal of vast heaps of stone and sepulchral type graves with bones.

The boulder wall close to the circle may support this evidence and the mention in OS early maps of ‘Tops Village’ at the foot...