View to the east from the ruins of Cairn M, with Cairn T on the summit of the next hill.

Main Page Guided Tours Introduction Loughcrew Megalithic art The Cailleach Cairns A, B and C Cairn D Cairns E, F and G Cairn H Cairns I, J and K Cairn L Cairns M, N and O Cairn R Cairn S Cairn T Cairn U Cairn V Cairn W Cairns X and Y

Cairn M Cairn M, a fairly ruined cairn with a diameter of about 20 m is perched on the top of its own hill at 244 m OD. This hill, called Sliabh Rua - the Red Mountain, is really a fourth hill in what is supposed to be a classic triple megalithic complex. It lies about halfway between Cairnbane West and Sliabh na Caillí. When viewed from Cairn L, the November and Febuary cross-quarter day sunrises come up over Cairn M (below). As mentioned, the cairn is quite ruined, and there is no indication of the type of passage or orientation. The large boulder, shown above, is the most substantial remaining stone. Cairn N A ruined monument on a knoll to the southwest of Cairn T, at 213 meters above sea level. The cairn was perhaps 19 m in diameter, judging from the remaining spread of rubble. A nearby standing stone is illustrated by Martin Brennan with an unusual engraving, barely visible today. There is also a more modern cross on the stone. Brennan claimed the winter solstice sunset, when observed from here, sets behind the Ben of Fore - an unusual shaped hill about 16 Km away, but this has been disputed by other researchers. Cairn O Cairn O was located just within the gate you enter to go to Cairnbane West from the road. Today a low circular mound remains, which would be easy to miss were it not for the Dúchas Fogra notice. The monument measured about 10 meters in diameter. There were three stones remaining in Conwell's time. An engraved stone, probably from this site has been re-erected by the hedge. A few large stones in the ditch south of here are probably also from this monument.