The Pinnacle of Kesh Corran, at 360 meters, marks the top of the Bricklieve Mountains.

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 Sections of Cairn F Section of Cairn G Astronomy at Cairn G Sections & plans Panorama from Carrowkeel

The lofty summit of Kesh Corann is capped by an ancient limestone cairn. Kesh Cairn is known locally as The Pinnacle, no doubt due to the totally magnificent 360 degree views across the plains of Connaught. This is the highest cairn in Co. Sligo; at 360 metres it is some 30 m higher in altitude then Queen Maeve's Cairn on Knocknarea. The cairn is also known as See Finn, or Finn's Chair, as Fionn MacCumhal used to like to sit here and follow the progress of his hunts. Kesh Cairn is a beautiful example of an unopened, undisturbed Stone Age site. It is built at the northern end of the mountain, on the highest point of the large flat heather-covered platform, which slopes away gently to the south. The cairn is about 27 metres in diameter, with a gentle curved profile; the ring of kerbstones is partially buried beneath the turf. The stones are all quarried limestone as at Carrowkeel. There is a section on the east side that looks as though someone was digging in recent times.The stone cairn surely covers a passage and chamber and has probably remained unopened since it was closed up in ancient times. An unusual feature of this monument is that it is situated within the northern end of a huge enclosure, a giant oval ring of about 285 x 200 metres in diameter (see picture below). This suggests that Kesh Cairn was an important gathering and assembly site for large groups taking part in the ancient festivals. This high enclosed platform was probably used as the main ceremonial bonfire site in the Bricklieve Mountains, due to its great height and visibility over the surrounding landscape. There are several other unsurveyed pre-bog structures on Kesh. Interestingly enough, though the cairn and enclosure are neolithic, there is very little evidence of visits to the caves from that time. It is almost as if the caves were extra sacred and avoided by peole. November 2000 - archaeology students surveying a pre-bog feature on the summit of Kesh Corran south of the cairn. It appears to be a hut within an enclosure attached to the large enclosure. Kesh Cairn can be gained with a challenging climb from any side of the mountain. From the caves it is a stiff climb; Cairnaweeleen on the north-east slopes is like a giant step and not too difficult to climb. Up until recently, it was the custom of local people to climb Kesh Corann on the last Sunday in July, which is called Garland Sunday. This is another example of how very ancient traditions have survived into modern times. The notorious ritual barefoot ascent of Croagh Patrick, Ireland's Holy Mountain, is also held on the last Sunday of July. This is the continued celebration of the ancient Feast of Lugh, the harvest festival which marks the end of Summer and beginning of Autumn. Garland Sunday is still celebrated every year in Keash Village.

An aerial shot of the summit of Kesh Corran. The large oval enclosure is clearly visible, with the small, D-shaped structure and possible hutsite at the south (left) end, opposite the cairn.