Newgrange Great Circle Stone GC-8

Great Circle stone GC-8 is one of the surviving standing stones in the Great Circle at Newgrange. It stands to the east of the entrance to the mound.

The Great Circle originally consisted of approximately 35 standing stones surrounding the mound, although only 12 survive today. The four tall standing stones opposite the entrance to the Newgrange mound rise between 2 and 2.5 metres above the original ground surface. They are GC3, GC1, GC-1 and GC-2. Many of the other surviving stones were broken in antiquity and now stand only a short distance above ground level.

Unlike the decorated kerbstones of Newgrange, none of the standing stones in the Great Circle are carved. The circle has an average diameter of 103.6 metres (340 feet) and encloses an area of approximately two acres.

Newgrange – Archaeology, Art and Legend

Newgrange – Archaeology, Art and Legend by Professor Michael J. O'Kelly and Claire O'Kelly is the definitive archaeological study of Newgrange and one of the most important books ever published on an Irish prehistoric monument.

Based on Professor Michael J. O'Kelly's excavations between 1962 and 1975, the book explains the construction, chronology, megalithic art and winter solstice alignment of Newgrange. O'Kelly also describes the excavation, interpretation and restoration of the great passage tomb using detailed archaeological records and architectural analysis.

Richly illustrated throughout, the volume includes the important contribution of Claire O'Kelly, who collaborated closely in the excavation and recording of the site from its earliest seasons.

First published in 1982, with a paperback edition in 1988, the book remains an essential reference for anyone interested in the archaeology, megalithic art and wider significance of Newgrange and the Boyne Valley.

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Newgrange | Brú na Bóinne

GC-8 stands on the eastern side of the Great Circle, facing the entrance from across the width of the enclosure. It is one of the shorter surviving stones; many circle positions are marked only by stumps after the originals were broken down in antiquity, yet it still fixes a point on the ring that originally held about thirty-five standing stones. The circle diameter averages 103.6 metres, enclosing an area Claire O'Kelly compared in scale to the inner circles at Avebury and the bank at Stonehenge.

The Boyne Valley passage tombs at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Newgrange is best known for the midwinter sunrise alignment, when light passes through the roof-box and travels the length of the passage to the chamber. The Office of Public Works manages the site; access to the interior is by guided tour from Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, while GC-8 and the other circle stones can be viewed from the path around the mound.