Megalithic and other sites in the Lough Arrow region.

Carrowkeel Donkey!

Welcome to the magical Lough Arrow region in south Sligo. This area is one of the largest and best preserved neolithic landscapes remaining in Ireland today. Lough Arrow is surrounded by mountains on three sides - the Bricklieve (Speckled) Mountains to the west, The Curliews to the South and the Braulieves or Arigna Mountains to the east. The north end of the arrow-shaped lake opens to the north-west - the chain of the Ox Mountains, with Benbulben and Knocknarea beyond. Situated on a knoll at the northern point is the massive ancient monument of Heapstown Cairn, which is one of the largest monuments in Ireland. For thise interested in hill-walking, a new trail was opened in 2000 which circles Lough Arrow and Lough Key. The northern portion of the walk is called the Historical Trail as it passes across so many notable sites; the southern portion is known as the Miners Way, as it crosses the sites of the Arigna coalmines. Lough Arrow is a limestone lake with three islands and a long penninsula. A narrow istamus seperates Lough Arrow from Lough Key, which lies immediately to the south. There are several smaller lakes nearby - Lough na Leibe, Lough Bo, Lough na Suil, Lough Meela and Lough Skean, so it is an attractive area for the keen fisherman. The real treasure of the area is its mythological, historical and archaeological heritage. Carrowkeel is becoming well known as the best preserved of the four major megalithic sites in the country. There are twenty one chambered cairns in the Bricklieve Mountains, and a series of dramatic caves in the cliffs on the west side of Kesh Corran. Heapstown Cairn, which is probably a prototype for the famous Newgrange, overlooks the River Uinsinn which flows from Lough Arrow to the sea at Ballisodare Bay below Knocknarea. The east side of the lake is the site of the ancient epic myth, the Second Battle of Moytura, and the highest point is capped by the cairn of Shee Lugh. The Second Battle of Moytura is the centre piece of Irish mythology and tells of the great struggle for the possession of the island between the tribes of the Túatha Dé Danann and the Formorians. The Túatha Dé Danann were led by the young hero, Lugh of the Long Arm while the Formorians were directed by the great wizard king, Balor of the Evil Eye, who has served as a model for Darth Vader and Sauron, as well as several other architypical 'villans'. Consiquently the region is steeped in mythological traditions from most of the Celtic cycles. The Dagda, the Morrigan, Lugh of the Long Arm, Balor, Nuada of the Silver Arm, Ogma, Breas, Cormac Mac Art, Diarmuid and Grainne, Fionn Mac Cumhal, Corran the Harper, Manannan Mac Lir, Sweeney, the Cailleach and Queen Maeve are all associated with places or monuments in the area. Turlough O'Carolan, the famous bardic composer also frequented the area - he was from nearby Ballyfarnon. Other famous inhabitants of the area were Douglas Hyde, the first President of Ireland who lived in Kilmactranny as a child, and Ambrose and Bernardo O'Higgins, the liberators of Peru and Chile.

Carrowkeel and Kesh Corran from the air.