Loughcrew Neolithic Burial Complex, about 3 Km from Oldcastle in Meath, is a stunningly beautiful location in its own right.
The location is also known as Slieve na Calliagh,The Witches Mountain, and The Mountain of the Hag. The entire area contains a wealth of antiquities including the many standing stones to be seen dotted about in various nearby fields.
The site has an OPW (Office of Public Works) presence located at a small Carpark nearby throughout the Summer months and is spread along a long Ridgeline which includes Carnbane East, Carnbane West, and Patrickstown.
A short walk up a signed grassy slope leads to Carnbane East while both Carnbane West and Patrickstown are unfortunately located on private land.
The walk up to Carnbane East is a peasant stroll along the lush and undulating grassy slope while the spectacular views from the top are worth the effort of the short journey on foot
(about 10 minutes).
(about 10 minutes).
It's assumed that Loughcrew represents the middle stage of the spread of Neolithic Passage Tomb building from the Northwest to the East culminating at Brú na Bóinne and Newgrange.
The Loughcrew Passage Tombs contain many outstanding examples of Neolithic Rock Art and even some of the smaller and ruinous remains have examples of Rock Art on several of the stones.
There are approximately 30 Tombs at Loughcrew but many may have vanished or been destroyed in times past and others are remnants of their previous glory. Cairn T on Carnbane East is the largest accessible Passage Tomb at the present time.
There are approximately 30 Tombs at Loughcrew but many may have vanished or been destroyed in times past and others are remnants of their previous glory. Cairn T on Carnbane East is the largest accessible Passage Tomb at the present time.
Beside Cairn T stands a huge stone which is known as The Hag's Chair due to its shape. There is a Cross (19th Cty) carved onto this stone and it is believed to be one of the Kerbstones of the Cairn. The Hag's Chair is covered in Rock Art but it is almost invisible now to the naked eye due to weathering.
Despite Cairn T being the Centerpiece on Carnbane East it is well worth sparing the time to enjoy the visit and walk around the hilltop while taking in the views to Cairnbane West and the surrounding countryside and visiting the other Cairns here on the East summit.
Loughcrew is considered to be one of the four main sites of the large and important Neolithic Burial and Ceremonial Passage Tomb Complex's in Ireland alongside Brú na Bóinne, Carrowmore, and Carrowkeel.
While the archaeological evidence obviously demonstrates the sites use for burial it's likely that their monumental size, position, and large clustering in a small area indicates that they were also used for various ancient rites and rituals.
Leaving no written record other than the elaborate Rock Art which may or may not have specific meaning we are left to guess just what these may have been....
Leaving no written record other than the elaborate Rock Art which may or may not have specific meaning we are left to guess just what these may have been....
