Carrowmore
About Carrowmore
Around 30 megalithic tombs can be seen in Carrowmore today. The tombs (in their original state) were almost universally 'dolmen circles'; small dolmens each enclosed by a boulder ring of 12 to 15 meters. Each monument had a small levelling platform of earth and stone. One of the secrets of the dolmens longevity was the well executed stone packing set around the base of the upright stones. The combination of 5 of these orthostats and a capstone enclosed a pentagonal burial chamber. The boulder circles contain 30 - 40 boulders, usually of gneiss, the material of choice for the satellite tombs. Sometimes an inner boulder circle is present. Entrance stones, or passage stones, crude double rows of standing stones, emphasise the direction of the small monuments; they generally face towards the area of the central tomb. The 'satellite tombs' or dolmens are distributed in a roughly oval shape about 1 km x .6 km, with the largest monument at the highest point at the centre, a cairn (now restored) called Listoghil.
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Getting there:
Approaching from the south (N4) after Collooney roundabout, exit Strandhill/Airport. Follow route Strandhill (R292). Take the right exit at Ransboro roundabout, centre is 1 km further on, on the right. Approaching from the north (N15), cross Hughes Bridge in Sligo town, and at the 5th set of traffic lights after the bridge turn right onto Church Hill. After 2 km take a left fork, signed Carrowmore. The centre is located 1 km from here, on the left.
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First To Review:
Oct 17, 2009
We were there out of season, so the museum was closed but we could still visited the tombs. Great fun walking around in this landscape, amazing it is so well preserved. Some very impressive tombs as well. You can only get here if you got your own transport, if you do it is really worth the trip. Perfect half day or full day trip from Sligo.
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