The stalled chamber of Cairn I on Cairnbane West.

 

 

The neolithic site of Loughcrew is one of Ireland's ancient wonders. It is the third of Ireland's great complexes of chambered cairns. The oldest site is found at Carrowmore by the Atlantic seaboard in Co. Sligo, and from here a great chain of ancient sites stretches eastward, gaining in size and complexity. The next site is my base, Carrowkeel in the Bricklieve Mountains in south Sligo. Between here and Loughcrew are the sites of Sheemor and Sheebeg in Leitrim and Corn Hill in Longford. After Loughcrew comes the grandest megalithic site in Ireland, The Boyne Valley where the massive monuments of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth are found within a bend of the River Boyne.

The monuments at Loughcrew probably date from between 3,000 and 4,000 B.C., but like so many enigmatic ancient structures, may prove to be built upon an older sacred space. The site was re-discovered in 1863 by a School Inspector named Eugene Conwell. He spent weeks exploring the sites and gave the cairns the letter names they bear today.

Communing with the stones: looking south-west to Sliabh na Caillí from a standing stone (one of many that surround these hills) on the north slopes of Patrickstown Hill.

Conwell conducted the first excavations at the site and found many beads, bone pins and stone balls which are typical of chambered cairns. He found two particuarly fine stone balls under the large basin stone of Cairn L. The Artist Du Noyer visited the site and recorded many of the decorated stones; since his time many of the engravings have weathered greatly and some have dissappeared completely.

Today Cairnbane East, the central part of the complex is owned by the Irish Goverment, and during the summer Office of Public Works guide are available to give tours. This is quite important, as over the years it could be very tricky to get the key to view the site. Also, as greater numbers of people began to arrive to see the equinox alignment, it became nessecary for a bit of marshelling to make sure everyone got in to see the lightbeam. I remember one occasion when an individual with a film camera tried to lock himself in the chamber much to the annoyance of the twenty or so people he was trying to lock out.

A large stone enclosure of uncertain date on the north side of the saddle between Sliabh na Caillí and Patrickstown. There is a standing stone in the field behind, and another beyond that again. (Three photo panorama, full moon, March 2000).

Cairnbane West is privately owned, and for the last number of years, access has been denied to enter Cairn L to view the cross quarter day sunrises. Patrickstown hill is also privately owned, but since the sites are quite destroyed, only the very commited make the treck over to visit the beautiful calendar stone.

Conwell's illustration of the large recess in Cairn L.

Bone slip with Iron Age decoration from Cairn H.

Cairn T.