Loughcrew is a massive megalithic cemetery spanning four hill tops, the highest four peaks in the area. There is a flurry of megalithic activity in this area including a stone circle, standing stones, fulachtai fia as well as the thirty or so passage graves.

Most of the activity is on Carnbane East (Corstown) and Carnbane West (Newtown), each having nine or more tombs. There is a a single overgrown tomb on Newtown Hill and several run down ones on Patrickstown Hill. Patrickstown Hill has a unique carving in one of its chambers.

On Carnbane East the fantastic cairn T has been restored to almost its former glory. It has carvings on nineteen orthostats, two sill stones, eight roof stones and one kerb stone.

On Carbane West cairn L has been semi-restored. It has two basins and sixteen decorated orthostats.

This place really is a marvel.

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All Sites Visited On 7th October 2001    « Previous Site

Amazingly the car park at the cafe where you get the cairn T key from was packed with walkers. While we had the tops of the hills at Loughcrew to ourselves.

One small note! They are now asking for a FIFTY EURO deposit for the key to cairn T.

All Sites Visited On 8th December 2002    « Previous Site

The best way to see Carbane East is to park in the car park at N 53 775. To reach this take the R163 west from Kells and join the R154. At Patrickstown bear left (the R154 carries straight on but looks like a separate road) and turn right where you see the signs for Loughcrew Megalithic Graves. The car park is over the brow of the hill along this road. I believe the keys are available in Newtown, where this turning is.

A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments

Loughcrew - Newtown (Co. Meath)	Carrowkeel (Co. Sligo)	Seahan Hill (Co. Dublin)
Loughcrew - Corstown (Co. Meath)

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