LOUGHCREW CAIRNS
LOUGHCREW
CAIRNS
POCKET IRELAND › Place Guides › Loughcrew Cairns
Perched high above the undulating plains of County Meath, the Loughcrew Cairns (known in Irish as Sliabh na Caillí, or the 'Hill of the Witch') offer an atmosphere of raw, windswept mysticism. Far removed from the heavily trodden tourist trails, this ancient landscape provides an intimate and evocative encounter with Ireland’s prehistoric past. The sweeping, panoramic views from the summit are breathtaking—on a clear day, it is said you can gaze across eighteen of Ireland's counties!
Cairn T
Dating back over 5,000 years to 3000 BC, this remarkable megalithic cemetery predates both the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge. The crown jewel of the complex is Cairn T, a massive passage tomb celebrated for its spectacular Neolithic rock art, featuring intricate spirals, lozenges, and rayed circles which you can see (particularly if you use your phone or a torch) when you peer inside the tomb’s entrance through the gate. Masterfully engineered, Cairn T is aligned with the spring and autumn equinoxes; during these brief windows, the rising sun pierces the passageway to brilliantly illuminate the ancient carvings within. Just outside sits the imposing 'Hag's Chair', a massive kerbstone steeped in dark, captivating local folklore.
Satellite Tombs
There are several circles of rocks that surround the main passage tomb are actually the remains of several ancient satellite passage tombs, primarily known to archaeologists as Cairns S, U, V, and W. Over the past 5,000 years, their protective stone mounds and corbelled roofs have gradually collapsed or been removed by early builders, leaving only the structural upright stones - known as orthostats - exposed to the open air.
Sitting prominently on the windswept summit of Carnbane East, these satellite tombs encircle the massive central mound of Cairn T, creating an interconnected celestial theatre. Exploring these exposed ruins is a uniquely intimate experience; because they lack roofs, you can walk directly within the footprint of prehistoric ceremonial chambers beneath the open sky. The bracing hilltop winds and panoramic views across the undulating Irish landscape create an immensely powerful atmosphere. Furthermore, the absence of dark, enclosed passages means the intricate megalithic carvings decorating the surviving stones can be closely examined in natural daylight.
The Hag’s Chair
Resting in imposing solitude on the northern edge of Cairn T, the legendary 'Hag's Chair' possesses an undeniable aura of ancient authority. Set against the breathtaking, panoramic backdrop of the rolling Meath countryside, this massive, throne-like kerbstone feels less like a mere structural boundary and more like an altar to a forgotten world. As the upland winds whip across the exposed summit of Carnbane East, rustling the wild grasses, one can easily envision the ancient, mythic figures who are said to have ruled this wild and atmospheric domain.
General Information
Location
Loughcrew Cairns,
Corstown,
Oldcastle,
Co. Meath,
Ireland.
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible. Reaching the monuments requires a steep, 15–20 minute uphill hike over uneven, grassy terrain.
Opening Hours
The exterior site is open year-round from dawn to dusk. Seasonal Office of Public Works (OPW) guides are on-site during the summer months (typically late May to early September, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM).
Entry
FREE
Parking
FREE
More Interesting Architecture in the East…
