Probably the most amazing passage tomb in Ireland! And that is no mean claim, is it?
Now half buried in the peat (the plateau here would have been limestone pavements, like those found in the Burren), entry to this tomb is gained by squeezing in behind the displaced door stone and crawling along a short passage into the polygonal chamber. This is roofed by a single, massive slab of nobbly limestone.
There are three recesses or sub-chambers forming a cruciform layout. Each of these is also polygonal. The chamber opposite the passage is guarded by two very closely set orthostats, making it a very secure place to sit once you've squeezed in.
The sub-chambers are all lintelled with large, square-cut slabs. The one of the rear chamber is set down from the roof, forming a gap, as if to echo the most incredible feature of this tomb .... the light box!!! Wow! What an amazing thing that is. A narrow slit above the doorway that allows a small amount of light to penetrate the depths of the sepulchre. This is similar to the light-box at Newgrange (County Meath), but possibly 700 years older.
The only disappointment is the amount of litter and rubbish left inside by people ... tea-lights, candles, flowers and other stuff. I came away with a bag full of the stuff! Why do people leave their crap behind them!? .. excuse my language, but I get quite angry about this sort of irresponsibility.
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_All Sites Visited On 29th December 2002 « Previous Site Next Site »
We finally made it to Cairn G. It was still raining heavily. I was hoping to give julian his first distant glimpse of Knocknarea, but it was not to be.
We scrambled into the inner sanctum of the tomb and waited for a while to see if the weather would ease ... no! Being soaked through we soon started to get cold and so decided it was time to cut our losses and head back to the car. A quick change of clothes and a drive around to the shop in Castlebaldwin for supplies (try some Brack - it's a sweet bread with currents and stuff ... completely wonderful) and then off to Carrowmore (County Sligo).
All Sites Visited On 3rd May 2003 « Previous Site Next Site »
I actually stopped at Cairn G twice during the day. The first time I climbed inside and ate my dinner - don't worry, I took all my rubbish away with me. I was pleasantly surprised to see no one else had left anything in there either. I think on each of my previous visits I have taken somebody else's crap away with me.
The reason I stopped by a second time was so that the sun would be more on the passage entrance, which because it faces westward gets very little at this time of year.
During the half hour I spent inside I had chance to study the wonderful textures of the limestone slabs used in its construction - each one a mini-landscape of hills and valleys. Very relaxing.
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_All Sites Visited On 7th March 2004 « Previous Site Next Site »
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_A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments
 Cairn T (Co. Meath) |  Glasnamullen (Co. Wicklow) |  Dowth (Co. Meath) |
 Carrowmore Tomb 56 (Co. Sligo) |  Sheemore (north tomb) (Co. Leitrim) |  Lugnagun (Co. Wicklow) |
