Stone circle, Srath Bruithne Íochtarach, Co. Donegal
In a mountain valley in County Donegal, where bog covers the marshy lowlands and higher ground rises to the northwest, lies what appears to be an ancient stone circle.
Stone circle, Srath Bruithne Íochtarach, Co. Donegal
Located about 130 metres from a river stream to the southeast, this mysterious monument emerged from the peat when local people were cutting turf over the past two centuries. The gradual removal of bog has revealed approximately 41 stones arranged in a large circular pattern measuring 15 metres across, though the circle remains incomplete, perhaps damaged by time or human activity.
The monument is best preserved along its southern and western edges, where low orthostats still protrude above ground level, averaging about half a metre in height and 0.7 metres in length. What makes this circle particularly intriguing is a single tall standing stone on the east-southeast side, rising 1.4 metres high and oriented along a northwest-southeast axis. This imposing stone, measuring 0.9 metres wide and 0.25 metres thick, may have served as an entrance marker, suggesting this wasn’t just a random arrangement but a deliberately designed sacred or ceremonial space.
Another possible stone circle sits 370 metres to the northeast, hinting that this boggy valley in Srath Bruithne Íochtarach may have held special significance for prehistoric communities. The preservation of these stones beneath the bog for millennia offers a rare glimpse into Ireland’s ancient past, revealed only through the traditional practice of turf cutting that has shaped these landscapes for generations.





