Bonane Heritage Park

Bonane Heritage Park is situated in the heart of the Sheen River valley, surrounded by the spectacularly scenic Sheehy and Caha Mountains. It is just off the N71 main road between Kenmare and Glengarriff.

The significance of the site which was to become the Heritage Park was discovered by local farmer Danny O’Connor in 1999. Danny’s extensive research led to the discovery of eight solar and lunar alignments, representing a microcosm of the archaeological heritage surviving within the Sheen River valley within a relatively small, easily accessible area.

Monuments in the Heritage Park fall within three chronological periods, the Bronze Age, the early medieval period and the post-medieval period. They include a Stone Circle, a Fulacht Fiadh, a Standing Stone and a Bullaun Stone, a Ring Fort and a Famine Ruin. The Park provides visitors with a 2km walk on gravelled paths through 5,000 years of history while enjoying some breathtaking scenery.

Bonane Heritage Park was developed by Bonane Community Co-operative Society Ltd, established in 2002 as a non-profit making society. It is owned and controlled by the local community. The Park was officially opened in June 2006 by the then Minister for Tourism John O’Donoghue. The Park has since gone from strength to strength and Bonane Community Co-Op is planning to enhance and extend facilities in years to come.

Please visit Bonane Heritage Park’s website here.

(Sources: Sheila Lane & Associates: Impact Assessment and Development of Bonane Heritage Centre, Bonane, Kenmare, Co. Kerry; Bonane Heritage Park promotional leaflet)