The Giant's Ring is a henge monument at Ballynahatty, near Shaw's Bridge, Belfast, Ireland. The Giant's Ring dates from the Neolithic period and was built around 2700BC, meaning that it predates the Egyptian pyramids. The site has had some sort of public use throughout its history. It is near the Shaw's Bridge crossing of the River Lagan, a point which has been used as a crossing of the river since at least the Stone Age. The original purpose of the monument was most likely as a meeting place or as a memorial to the dead.
Shaws bridge is named after Captain John Shaw of Oliver Cromwell's army, who built an oak bridge here in 1655, possibly replacing one from 1617, More than likely using sacred Irish oak trees. The stone bridge was built in 1691 by Thomas Burgh, although this was destroyed by floods, leading to its replacement with the current bridge in 1709.
