Athgreany Stone Circle is a prehistoric stone circle in County Wicklow, Ireland. Known locally as Piper’s Stones, Athgreany’s picturesque stone circle consists of fourteen granite boulders and probably dates from 1400-800 BC. This imposing site is a dream come true for lovers of history and legendary stones!
The Athgreany Stone Circle is one of the most important stone circles in the Wicklow region. And with good reason! Some of the boulders are up to 2 metres high, and define an area around 23 metres in diameter.
Athgreany or “Achadh Greine” (which translates as “Field of the Sun”) suggests that the site was dedicated to observing the sun, particularly during major solar events such as the winter solstice, spring equinox, summer solstice and autumn equinox. Just north of the monument is a single standing stone, known as the Piper.
Local legend has it that the circle and this isolated stone are the petrified remains of a piper and a group of dancers who were caught enjoying themselves on the Sabbath. They were turned to stone for their misdeed and have been standing in the same spot ever since!
A fairy tree (hawthorn) also grows on the circumference of the circle. It is the subject of countless local beliefs, associated with fairies and Irish folklore. It’s said to be magical, and home to evil fairies! You don’t want to get too close, because fairies in Ireland are a far cry from the gentrified representations of other countries in the world!
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