The
entrance to Dowth South. There are spirals and cupmarks on the entrance
stone. This chamber is aligned to the winter solstice sunset. |
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There are two passages and chambers within the cairn of Dowth, both located within the southwest quadrant of the mound. Dowth was raided by the Vikings as noted in the Annals of the Four Masters, which is probably a referance to the souterrains which would have been in use at the time. The entrance to the north passage stood open up untill about 1870, when it appears in one of William Wilde's illustrations. The north passage was excavated in the early part of this century when the entrance was re-modelled. The actual opening lies buried underground while a concrete shaft intersects with the passage near it's entrance and has been used as the way in, using a ladder. There is also an entrance through the early Christian souterrain which joins up with the passage, and which is now mainly used to enter Dowth North.
Right, plan of Dowth North by Claire and Michael O'Kelly. The chamber is cruciform in plan with three recesses. The right-hand recess extends into another short passage which turns right and then left. This annex is small and cramped; the visitor has to cross three sillstones to enter it. It is a very unusual feature and not found at any other site in the catalogue of chambered cairn design in Ireland. This so-called dog leg may be the remains of an earlier monument which was altered when the huge mound was built.
The
chamber of Dowth north with it's massive smashed basin, large enough to hold a body. Dowth South Dowth South has a short passage which opens into a round chamber, about 5 meters in diameter, with an unusual recess to the right. The structure was originaly roofed with a round corbelled vault shaped like a beehive, which had collapsed and was dismantled and replaced with a concrete ceiling. Again, this is unusual design work in relation to Irish cairns.
Plan of Dowth South by Claire and Michael O'Kelly. The chamber is aligned to the winter solstice sunset. A broad beam of sunlight enters the passage at 4.15 pm, sweeps across the floor and illuminates the decorated stone at the back of the chamber. The reflected light illuminates the recess to the right. There is a kerbstone across the entrance, and though it has fallen forwards, one can see a spiral and cupmark engraved upon it.
Looking from the round chamber of Dowth south into the annex, or right hand recess. Picture copyright OPW.
Martin Brennan (right) measuring the sunbeam in Dowth South, which he re-discovered with Jack Roberts during their astronomical research in the Boyne Valley in the early 1980's. There are other sites of interest nearby. Immediately beside Dowth to the east is Dowth Church and Castle which are on the grounds of Netterville Manor, which was once a part of Dowth Hall slightly further to the east. The Manor and tower house have been restored privately, and may be open to the public sometime soon. The Irish poet John Boyle O'Reilly was born at Dowth Castle, and there is a memorial to him in the graveyard behind the church. There is a Sheela-na-Gig, which I have never been able to find on the Church. Further to the east are the satellite mounds I and J on the grounds of Dowth Hall, and the huge neolithic henge of Dowth, one of the largest in Ireland. |
The
passage is oriented to the Samhain and Imbolc sunsets in early November
and February, though the sun has not been able to enter for many years
due to the damaged entrance and the chamber remains in darkness. Viewed
from the passage, the sun would have set directly over 
Martin
Brennan concluded that the mounds in the 