Grange in Limerick

JMSE

Only read about Lough Gur and the stone circle at Grange in Limerick for the first time yesterday so being the curious Meathman I am I looked up both on the road-map I have. I found Lough Gur but not Grange. Anyway, as I was to be in Ballyneety this morning making a delivery, and as I was an hour early on purpose, I headed south to try and get a look at Lough Gur, but I didnt really expect to get too close as I was in a lorry. Anyway as I was just about to give up and do a u-turn and head back (the signs for Lough Gur get fewer as you get nearer), what do I come across on my left hand side? only the stone circle at Grange!

Its well worth the visit, free, easy to park and a mind blower for a novice to be standing in something that was built maybe 5000 years ago.

So you could say I made my first archaeological discovery at 8am this morn. I went in and had a look, all under the almost discreet observation of a pair of eyes from across the road. I did wonder as I drove off if that farmer who was keeping an eye on me from his milking parlour had ancestors from nearby.

steveon

Truly lovely spot all rite, the local farmer owns the land there and keeps it in great shape properly watching out in case u left a tip as a lot of visitors do for its upkeep.

Did u make it as far as lough gur? As you were only 5mins away when you got to the circle. If not u missed out as it really is a beautiful hidden gem and has been taken over and now ran by the locals instead of Shannon Development who have left it become ran down.

JMSE

No tip left steveon, sorry, I thought I'd leave that to the yanks. On that, I notice the sign said the tip was for the upkeep of the fence but his calves were grazing inside the circle! No bother there with me, either way I'm sure there'll be other animals grazing there long after we're all gone. Fair play to him and the locals for whatever input they have in the upkeep of the area. They are national monuments are they? Didnt make it to Lough Gur as the roads seemed narrow for what I was driving, even the road to Bruff wasnt throwing up many chances of turning. I was just hoping there might be road frontage at the lake on the main road like at Lough Owel but its more secluded than that.

snowdaisy

Hey i missed that stone circle when i went to lough gur, twas pissin rain at the time tho so no surprise ha ha.

The grazing is a good thing - natural lawnmowers, no pollution! A tip is a bit over the top though, if the landowner was in REPS he would have had a grant to look after it anyway.

The national monument issue is a wierd and complicated one,
yes all such sites are national monuments, many of them are on private land though as the goverment couldnt afford to buy them all up or manage them all, so access is not automatically open to the public and you should always ask nicely if its a rural / random site somewhere and the farmer is lookin at ya. They are often officially under the 'guardianship' of the state and it is an offence to damage them or do anything on or near them without permission, even if you own the land.

Enjoy the discoveries on your travels