The Cairn of Sliabh Dá Ean.

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Sliabh Da Eán

Sliabh Da Ean is the name of a group of four distcintive peaks in the eastern extreme of the Ox Mountains in County Sligo. The hills, Sliabh Dargan, Sliabh Da Eán, Aghamore cairn and Caillí a Vera's House are each capped by a neolithic cairn. Sliabh Da Eán's cairn is about 15 meters in diameter, built from quarried local gneiss rock on the highest peak of the four hills, at 276 m a. s. l.

These sites are rich in local folklore and mythology. A Caillieach (hag) was said to have lived in the chambered cairn on the lowest peak. She befrended the mad king, Sweeney, and after transforming themselves into geese, they dived to the bottom of the small mountain-top lake, Loch Da Gé, the Lake of the Two Geese (below).

Lough Da Gé, the Lake of the Two Geese. Beyond is Lough Gill, the Garavogue and Cairns Hill.

The natural notch between Sliabh Da Eán and Sliabh Dargan was used as a foresight by the local neolithic builders. Apparently, the winter solstice sun rises in the notch when viewed from Listoghil at the centre of Carrowmore. The sun rises in the valley between Aghamore and Sliabh Da Eán, and the recently discovered megalithic engraving at Listoghil may be a representation of the distcintive peaks of Sliabh Da Eán.

From Moytura, the extreme setting lunar standstills, which only occur every 19 years, should set into the notch between Sliabh Da Eán and Sliabh Dargan. The Moytura sunsets and winter full moon sets drop behind Knocknarea in a similar arrangement to that found in Carrowkeel.

View west from Sliabh Da Eán Cairn to Knocknarea.