Looking east across Cairn U to Patrickstown 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 U Cairn U is the first monument many people see at Loughcrew, as you pass it on the way into the fenced off enclosure on the way to the summit. Cairn U measures 13 meters in diameter, with a ring of 16 kerbstones, most of which are standing upright like jagged old teeth. The cairn stones survive to the level of the orthostats, which is about 1.5 meters high. The passage and chamber are almost 7 meters long, and there are 13 engraved stones, which includes the two wonderful engraved panels illustrated below. Looking across the kerbstone into Cairn U. Engraved stone in the right recess with art highlighted. Engraved stone in the left recess with art highlighted. The chamber is a kind of cruciform with a larger right-hand recess. The left-hand recess is divided by a slab, and some think that the right hand side may have been similar, with the stall stone now missing. You have to cross a high sill stone to get into the passage. The orientation is roughly the same as Cairn L, towards the November and Febuary cross-quarter day sunrises.

Cairn U.