Bonane Heritage Park
Bonane Heritage Park: Explore 5,000 Years of Irish History
Nestled in the scenic Sheen Valley between the Sheehy and Caha Mountains, just 10 km from Kenmare at the meeting point of the Ring of Beara and the Ring of Kerry, Bonane Heritage Park is one of Ireland’s most fascinating archaeological preserves. Spread across some 37 acres, this community‑run site invites you to wander its 2 km gravel trail and immerse yourself in over 250 well-preserved sites from the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages—including pre‑Famine dwellings.
Along the looped path, visitors encounter a variety of ancient monuments: a dramatic ring fort, one of the largest in Ireland, with its deep ditch and double embankment built by hand and steeped in local folklore as a “fairy fort” a stone circle featuring a central Boulder Burial that displays solar and lunar alignments tied to ancient ritual calendars a fulacht fiadh, the Bronze Age “cooking pit” used to boil food with heated stones, positioned along the path near the sun‑aligned stone circle unusually carved Bullaun stones—including one angled basin facing the mid‑winter sunrise, suggesting ritual or astronomical purpose and several standing stones whose original purpose, boundary marker, burial site or cosmic alignment-remains a mystery.
Bonane Heritage Park also preserves evidence of rural life up to the Great Famine. Surviving ruins of early nineteenth‑century cottages and field systems reflect dense settlement in the townland of Curragraigue, with thatched dwellings typical of the era.
Visitors can enhance their experience by following an audio tour that guides them through 5,000 years of archaeological significance, from Neolithic origins to Famine times, using accessible narration to bring the landscape to life.
Recommended visit duration is about two hours, making it perfect for a leisurely walk, photography or a family outing. Bonane Heritage Park is a not‑for‑profit community project that welcomes guests year‑round, with entry fees (usually around €4–5 per adult, family tickets available) or donations via the honesty box when unattended. This hidden gem offers a truly immersive journey through Ireland’s ancient past.
