Cairn
K, the highest point on Carrowkeel Mountain. Lough Key is visible on the
extreme left. The remains of Cairn L can be seen on the right. |
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Carrowkeel - Cairn K Cairn K is located on the highest part of Carrowkeel Mountain, about 300 meters south of Cairns H and G. This monument, along with Cairns B and G is the most intact structure at Carrowkeel and is an excellent early example of the classic cruciform corbelled chamber design. The monument a good example of how the other cairns would have looked originally. It has a diameter of 21 meters and is about 6 meters high, and is surrounded by a layer of bog which has covered any kerbstones which might surround the base of the cairn. Up until a few years ago there was a lot of white quartz around the north face and entrance of the cairn, but most has been removed by visitors, probably for souviners. This quartz would have been used to cover all of the cairns - see Newgrange for an example. And this is probably how the mountains got their name - for Breac Sliabh means Speckled Mountain, and anyone standing on Knocknarea or any of the peaks of the Ox Mountains would have seen a collection of monuments in Carrowkeel glittering in the light of the sun or moon. This quartz would have been quarried in the Ox Mountains, probably in the area around Croghan Cairn which is rich in quartz. The Ox Mountains are said to be the oldest mountain range in Europe. To enter the inner sanctum requires crawling through the small square entrance. The passage is 7 meters long and leads into a cruciform chamber with a beautiful corbelled ceiling 3 meters high. Although the lintels over the three recesses are cracked, the structure is sound and the interior dry if somewhat damp - the stones 'sweat' when it is very warm outside. As mentioned there are three recesses off the chamber.
In the back of the right-hand recess is a triangular shaped stone with a pointed top which is known as the Croagh Patrick Stone, due to its resemblance to the Reek. Croagh Patrick is clearly visible on a good day, about 75 miles away to the west south-west, and on two days of the year, Samhain and Imbolc, the sun when viewed from Cairn K, drops behind the Reek. The Cairn, Cairn L and the stone box mentioned below are all on this 'Croagh Patrick axis' which extends across to Moytura in the other direction. |
The
corbelled roof of Cairn K. The capstone is about 3 meters above the floor.
This may be one of the oldest intact corbelled chambers remaining in Ireland. |
