Newgrange Great Circle Stone GC3

Great Circle stone GC3 is one of the surviving standing stones in the Great Circle at Newgrange. It stands to the west of the entrance to the mound. It is one of the four tall standing stones opposite the entrance to the Newgrange 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

GC3 is one of the four tall standing stones that face the passage entrance, rising between 2 and 2.5 metres above the original ground surface. Together with GC1, GC-1 and GC-2, it framed the approach to the tomb across the open ground enclosed by the Great Circle. The circle averaged 103.6 metres in diameter, larger than the kerb ring, and its centre does not coincide with that of the mound, so the builders planned an outer enclosure distinct from the tomb itself.

Excavation showed that Newgrange was constructed around 3200 BC, centuries before Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids. Although the circle stones are undecorated, they belong to the same Neolithic building programme as the quartz-facing, the roof-box and the cruciform chamber within. The monument lies at the heart of Brú na Bóinne, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape that includes Knowth, Dowth and many smaller sites. Passage access is by guided tour from the visitor centre; the tall entrance-side stones are among the most photographed features on the outer walk.