Looking directly into the chamber of Cairn E. Cairn F is behind to the right.

Carrowkeel Cairn A Cairns C & D Cairn F Cairn G Cairn H Cairn K Cairn L Cairns M & N Cairns O & P Doonaveeragh Treanmacmurtagh Sheecor Lough na Leibe Treanmor Cairnanweeleen The Caves of Kesh Kesh Corran Kesh Mythology Kesh Cairn Sections of Cairn F More sections from F Section of Cairn G Astronomy at Cairn G More astronomy Sections & plans Panorama from Carrowkeel

Carrowkeel - Cairn E Cairn E is an unusual structure, unique among the other monuments at Carrowkeel. It is a composite of a court cairn and passage cairn, measuring 35 metres long and 10 metres wide. This monument is quite striking in shape and volume, and adds to the mystery of Carrowkeel by its presence. There is a structure of similar shape and dimensions at Moytura in Highwood across Lough Arrow, but with no remaining cairn stones. Cairn E is located above the Bricklieve Gap at 310 metres above sea level, some 300 metres north of Cairn F. The easiest approach to the cairn is from the mountain road where it is joined by a green strip, sometimes used for parking; the cairn is appoximately 40 m up the hill. The northern end of Cairn E houses a ruined passage with a cruciform chamber which, like Cairns B, G and K, is aligned to Queen Maeve's Cairn atop Knocknarea 25 km away. A few of the large flags of limestone from the chamber are still in place and the two small side chambers still have their roofing slabs. All other roofing slabs are missing. The short passage is divided, as usual with these monuments, by sill stones. There is a large split block of sandstone a few metres from the entrance, which was surely a part of the monument. Perhaps it was broken at the same time as the standing stone in nearby Cairn F. A kerb of massive limestone flags, laid end to end, can be seen in places peeping out from under the cairn stones. The body of the cairn is surrounded by a thick growth of heather. The cairn is composed of splintered limestone chunks, and the 1911 excavation found several small secondary cists in the body of the cairn, possibly dating to the Bronze age. The view of Knocknarea from the chamber. While the passage and chamber are oriented to Knocknarea at 337°, the long body of the cairn is aligned on a different axis - 329.5°, quite close the axis of the midwinter lunar standstill setting azimuth. The mound laid out on the summer solstice sunset/winter solstice sunrise axis. Once every 18.6 years at the winter solstice, the full moon will set behind Croghaun, and moonlight may illuminate the left side of the cross-shaped chamber. Then, looking south-west along the axis of the cairn, the winter solstice sun will rise over the court shaped structure. Angles and horizon viewed from Cairn E. Note the broken chunk of sandstone about 10 meters from the entrance. The region between Doomore and Knocknarea is where the extreme winter moons set. The southern end of Cairn E houses the court structure, a kind of courtyard which faces the summer lunar standstill rising position and is built of massive flags of limestone up to 4 metres long. The remains of what may be a small chamber or cist can be seen on the east side of the court. The growth of bog over the entrance suggests that this structure fell into disrepair long ago. However, it remains one of the most interesting and mysterious structures remaining from the stone age.

Another photo from the 1911 excavation. Armstrong, left and Praegar, right, are about 25 meters apart.