Loughcrew

Standing here at Loughcrew, you are at the highest point in County Meath, known as 'Sliabh na Caillí' or the Hill of the Witch. This is one of Ireland's four major megalithic complexes, a sacred landscape that has been a focal…

The journey to the summit begins with a moderate hike from the car park, a walk that takes about 10 to 15 minutes. As you climb the steps and follow the poles marking the path, the views on your left begin to open up toward the…

At the summit of Carnbane East stands Cairn T, the jewel of the complex. On the northern side of this cairn's perimeter is a massive, throne-shaped stone known as the 'Hag's Chair'. …

Entering the passage of Cairn T, you are stepping into a machine designed to capture time. This tomb is precisely aligned to the sunrise of the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes. …

The interior of Cairn T is 'highly covered' with rock art, featuring some of the most accomplished carvings in Ireland. Look closely at the stones to see solar symbols, circles within circles, and complex 'flower-like' patterns. …

Surrounding Cairn T are several other mounds, such as Cairn S, Cairn U, and Cairn V, each in a varying state of survival. Cairn S is particularly interesting as it is oriented toward the northwest, potentially aligned with the…

During excavations at Loughcrew, several curious objects were discovered: spherical chalk and stone balls. Some of these 'perfectly spherical balls' actually fit into the cut marks found inside the tomb chambers, leading to…

As you begin your descent back to the modern world, look one last time at the sprawling landscape of Meath and Westmeath. From this height, you can see how Loughcrew connects to other sacred sites like the Hill of Lloyd and the…