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Loughcrew Megalithic Tombs, Meath, Ireland

Posted by daev

I'd visited most of the major megalithic sites in Ireland, but somehow had never made it to Loughcrew, or as its also known Sliabh na Caillí - The Hill of the Witch. There's dozens of tombs scattered across two hills - Carnbane East and West, looking down upon the County Meath village of Oldcastle.

Although not as visually impressive as the remodelled behemoth that is Newgrange, Loughcrew as a significance of its own. While the main chamber is illuminated at sunrise on the Winter solstice, Cairn T at Lough crew does the same at sunrise on the autumn Equinox - with light coming into the chamber onto the megalithic art inside. As the light moves along the solar symbols carved into the rock, the sunlight is formed into a beam by the entrance stones.

All of these are from Carnbane East which includes Cairn T.

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Posted by daev at September 21, 2005 6:05 PM

Thanks for sharing. I never heard of this place but there is SO much to look at in Ireland I am not suprised. I think the Grianan of Aileach is something. My favorite towns are Shrule, Mayo (shrule.com) and Shannonbridge, Offly. Fetherd, Tipperary is a trip, as is Yougall. Relatives on my dad's side live near Rockfleet(do image search).