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Searching for magic at the Stone Circle of Kenmare

Luxury travel blog » Sacred Places » Searching for magic at the Stone Circle of Kenmare
October 26, 2013 by Carol Perehudoff

This post may contain affiliate links.

Is Ireland magical or not? Of course it is! Why does no one believe me? When I travelled south of Killarney to the wee town of Kenmare in search of the mystical stone circle of Kenmare – an unsung hero in the world of pagan sites – I had to fight a host of disbelievers, including a horse.

Magic at the Stone Circle of Kenmare

Check out my quest to commune with the Megalithic spirits through the Stone Circle of Kenmare and wonder why people don’t like travelling with me … or dancing with me either.

 

New possible winner of Can’t Dance with the Stars in Ireland

Obviously, I won’t be auditioning for Dancing with the Stars anytime soon. Though there might be a Dancing with the Pagans during the Full Moon I could look into, or perhaps a private twirl-around-like-a-lunatic-at-the-Stone-Circle-of-Kenmare. But at least I gave it my (almost) all.

 

The Stone Circle of Kenmare and the Ring of Kerry
If you believe in magic …

 

Don’t diss the power of the stones

No matter how you experience them, stone circles are fascinating. Even if you don’t believe in the power of the rock, Kenmare is a good stop if you’re touring southwest Ireland and the Ring of Kerry.

Where is Kenmare?

Located 20 km south of Killarney, Kenmare is County Kerry’s first designated Heritage Town and don’t worry, while the much larger Killarney is stocked with shops selling woollens, tablecloths and nice leprechaun keychains, you won’t be hurting for things to buy in Kenmare – albeit the shopping there is on a much smaller scale. This means … fewer crowds! Yay!

Communing at the Stone Circle of Kenmare, Ring of Kerry, Ireland
Better than Guinness!

 

The history of the Stone Circle of Kenmare

Also known as the Druid’s Circle, the Stone Circle of Kenmare sits in a smooth  grassy patch surrounded by trees, much like a private dining room in a restaurant.

The setting feels isolated and peaceful, surrounded by those green hills of Ireland, and the stones are kept company by a bristly old hawthorn tree. There is something mystical about the tree as well apparently, because its branches are draped with offerings like ribbons, cards and little pouches filled with secret messages and who knows what?

Mystical tree at the Stone Circle of Kenmare, Ring of Kerry, Ireland
Secret messages

 

Did Wandering Carol intrude and read any of the secret messages in the Hawthorne Tree?

No, she did not. Though she was tempted.

About the Kenmare Stone Circle

The stones in the Kenmare Stone Circle vary in size and shape. There are 15 stones that circle around a centre stone called a dolman. Mysteriously, the brownstone and greenstone rock used is not found locally, but had to have been transported, and that was done sometime between 2000 and 200 B.C. To me, the central boulder looks like an altar.

What was the Purpose of the Stones?

No one knows for sure. The Kenmare Stone Circle could be a type calendar. Or a place where pagan priests preformed rituals. A burial site perhaps? Interestingly, its the only stone circle located so close to a town.

Stone circles, standing stones and other ancient monuments can be found all over County Kerry, not just in Kenmare but also in the Dingle Peninsula, where you’ll find a great collection of Ogham stones. These, by way of notches etched into the rock, contain the earliest form of writing in Ireland.

A sleepy town with a mystical connection, Kenmare, Ireland
A sleepy town with a mystical connection

 

Legend of the Stone Circle

Legend says the stones are frozen dancing gods. Legend also says that my  attempts at twirling around meditatively are more dancing bear than Lady Gaga but it’s still oddly liberating and I defy you, on your next  trip to Ireland, to stop visit the Stone Circle of Kenmare and create your own ritual.

After all, magic comes to those who seek it. (Snort, says my boyfriend in reply, even louder than the horse in the video.)

Travel tips for Kenmare, Ireland and the Ring of Kerry

Where to stay: For luxury travel The Park Hotel Kenmare has a historic interior and an amazing spa that wins all sorts of awards – a mystical experience on its own. Shelbourne Street. Tel: +353 64 664 1200.

Read more about My favourite European Destinations

Category: Ireland Travel, Sacred Places

About Carol Perehudoff

A former freelance travel columnist for the Toronto Star, Carol has won more than 30 writing awards and honours. A spa and luxury travel expert, she’s written for top travel publications around the globe.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emme Rogers @ Roamancing

    Thanks for the smile and the chuckle.

  2. Dian Emery

    horses, Guiness beer, a spa visit, dancing around a magical stone. Sounds like a perfect day in Ireland!

  3. Lesley

    Gorgeous fields of green! LOVE your leprechaun(s) crossing pic!

  4. kate

    I’m so curious as to what was in those pouches! Mysteries are good though. Fun video and the dance was actually pretty good (coming from a non-dancer here).

  5. inka

    That’s the spirit, my dear. Well done. I guess a few Guiness did help!!

  6. Michele Peterson

    Too funny! I think Mark should be in every video!

  7. wanderingcarol

    Hi Lori, Yes, the sheep is obviously a better athlete than I. For those who don’t know, Lori is an actual dancer, so her coming to me for advice about my remarkable ballet spin is both flattering and humbling. Humbling only because I don’t want to lose touch with the little people (leprechauns and otherwise). Thanks for reporting the broken link. It’s fixed now. Lori, I couldn’t bring myself to open any of the pouches. Though I did leave one myself, but since I can’t remember what I put in it, it, too, is a mystery.

  8. Lori Henry

    I have a few questions:
    1. What were in the offering bags hanging on the tree? You did look, didn’t you?
    2. Where did you get your dance moves? My favourite was the ballerina spin. :-)
    3. Well, this one is a comment: I didn’t know sheep could jump like that!

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