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Carrowkeel
Megalithic Cemeteryy. |
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| An Cheathrú Chaol (Narrow quarter.) Situated about 6.5 kms (4 miles) northwest
The site also contains an ancient village consisting of about seventy circular huts. It is unclear if the huts and burial chambers are of the same era. This site is remote and difficult to access. The tombs have been Carbon 14 dated placing then at between 5400 and 5100 years old, so that they predate the Pyramids on Egypt's Giza plateau by 500-800 years. Carrowkeel is one of the big four passage tomb cemeteries in Ireland Carrowkeel is set on high ground above Lough Arrow, and the tombs seem to be oriented towards the area of Cuil Irra, Knocknarea and Carrowmore. There are fourteen passage tombs in Carrowkeel. Some can be entered by crawling through a narrow passage. Six more passage tombs are located close by in the Keshcorran complex. A particular type of crude pottery found in passage tombs has been titled Carrowkeel Ware, having first been recorded in the Carrowkeel Monuments.
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Ballinfad on the face of Bricklieve Mountain overlooking Lough Arrow are
fourteen Neolithic passage graves, some are open but are in an unsafe
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Knocknarea. |
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| (Hill of the executions.) This is a large unopend cairn standing on the summit of Knocknarea Mountain with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. The cairn is 10.6 metres (35 ft) high and 61 Meters (200 ft) in diameter. It is thought to be a Neolithic passage grave. It is not the grave of the legendary Medb (Maeve) The cairn is of a much older date than the events depicted in the Tain, in which Maeve plays a prominent role.
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Creevykeel
Court Cairn. |
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This is one of Irelands most accessible and best cared for Neolithic court graves. Set on a hill overlooking the sea, it is known locally as the 'Giant's Grave'. The central court is entered by a passageway from the east, behind this are two burial chambers
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Carrowmore
Cemetery. |
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| (Big quarter.) Carrowmore is situated 5km from Sligo and has one of the largest collections of megalithic monuments in Western Europe. They even predate the Egyptian pyramids. These are mainly dolmens and small passage tombs. There is a visitor’s centre there open from Easter until October from 10am – 6pm
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