Bettina

2012 has been has been a good year for the Grianán, and it is not over yet. In March last a beam of light from the rising sun halved the inside of the monument in two equal parts - an amazing event that had long slipped the memory of Inishowen.
http://unknownswilly...spring-equinox/
http://www.donegalno...gals_stonehenge
A great festival took place in June - Féile Grianán Ailigh (),
which saw warriors on the hill, leading to the conclusion that "Grianan Fort may not be a fort after all".
http://unknownswilly...ending-aileach/
There was of course the autumn equinox, repeating the spectacle of six month earlier:
http://unknownswilly...n-equinox-2012/
and quite breath-taking sun rises and sets inbetween and since.
The name of the hill before the Ordnance Survey of 1837 has been confirmed as Grianán Gormlaig with Gormlaig being possibly a variation on Carrlaeg, mentioned in the Three Fragments of Irish Annals, which was known at the time of Patrick and Columba as Carrig Eolairg - the rock of knowledge.
With a tremendous portion of luck there will be only a very few clouds between December 21 - 23, when hopefully the setting sun will drop into Barnes Mor Gap, the entrance to the rest of Donegal, and establishing a further aligment of the monument.