HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsLoughcrew Cairns
Ireland
After that, we go to Loughcrew, the location of Neolithic passage tombs with complete rock art covering the inside walls that date back more than 5,000 years. After our visit, we will have lunch at a nearby restaurant, where the tastes enhance the area's rich history and add even more value to our experience.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Loughcrew, or Slieve na Calliagh (the Hill of the Witch), is one of the four main passage tomb cemeteries in Ireland, situated atop the highest peaks in County Meath. This archaeological complex, dating back to approximately 3000…
Listen in the app2Cairn T: The Equinox Chamber
Cairn T, located on Carnbane East, is the focal point of the Loughcrew cemetery and an analytical masterpiece of archaeoastronomy. This large passage tomb, measuring 35 meters in diameter, is precisely oriented so that at sunrise…
Listen in the app3The Hag's Chair and Megalithic Thrones
On the northern side of the kerb of Cairn T sits a massive, throne-shaped stone known as the 'Hag's Chair.' Analytically, this kerbstone is one of the few examples of an exterior ritual seat at a passage tomb site. Historically,…
Listen in the app4Megalithic Art and Symbolic Language
The Loughcrew Cairns contain some of the finest examples of Neolithic art in Ireland, and an analytical study of these carvings offers a window into the Stone Age mind. Unlike the more famous spirals of Newgrange, the art at…
Listen in the app5Legend of the Cailleach: The Witch's Grave
The folklore of Loughcrew is dominated by the Cailleach Bhéara, and analyzing this narrative reveals much about the medieval and modern perception of the site. According to the legend, the witch was challenged to drop an apron…
Listen in the app6Carnbane West and the Botched Excavations
A short walk from the main cluster takes us toward Carnbane West, which features Cairn L, another analytically significant structure with its own unique solar alignment. However, this area also serves as a cautionary tale in the…
Listen in the app7The Panoramic Horizon and 18 Counties
The crowning achievement of a visit to Loughcrew is the analytical realization of its strategic and symbolic dominance over the Irish Midlands. From the summit of Carnbane East, one can witness a panorama that is truly…
Listen in the app8Closing
As we descend from the heights of Loughcrew, we carry with us a profound sense of the sophistication and spiritual depth of the Neolithic world. We have analyzed the astronomical precision of Cairn T, the enduring power of the…
Listen in the app
What is Loughcrew Cairns?
Loughcrew Cairns is a place in Ireland with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 53.7446, -7.1120 |
| Last updated |