Newgrange Great Circle Stone GC5

Great Circle stone GC5 is one of the surviving standing stones in the Great Circle at Newgrange. It stands to the west 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

GC5 stands on the western arc of the Great Circle, between the entrance to Newgrange and the taller stones that face the passage mouth. Like many survivors today, it is broken down to a stump, yet it still marks a position on the original ring that lay between 7 and 17 metres outside the kerb. Claire O'Kelly described the circle as the first major feature encountered when walking up the hill towards the monument, framing the mound long before a visitor reaches the decorated entrance stone (K1).

Brú na Bóinne was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 for the concentration of Neolithic passage tombs in the Boyne Valley. Knowth and Dowth stand alongside Newgrange, with dozens of related monuments in the surrounding ridge and floodplain. Access to the passage is by guided tour from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre; the Great Circle stones, including GC5, can be viewed from the path around the mound.