Underexposed – an Irish Photoblog
Megalithic Ireland, a selection of ancient sites – Earthworks, Standing Stones, Stone Circles, Dolmens and Megalithic Tombs.
Cairn L, Loughcrew Megalithic Complex – Carnbane West, Co Meath, Ireland
The kerb of Cairn L with Cairn H in the middle ground and cairns F and G on the horizon
Cairn H
The entrance to Cairn H
Cairn H
Cairn L from the south west
Cairn D
Cairn F with Cairn D in the background
Cairn I With Cairn T on the horizon
Cairn I
Loughcrew Megalithic Complex – Carnbane East, Co Meath, Ireland
The Hag’s Chair at Cairn T
The Hag’s Chair on Sliabh na Cailleach, the Mountains of the Hag (Witch)
Detail of Cross inscribed into the Hag’s Chair
Cairn V, Carnbane East
Cairn T viewed from Cairn V, Loughcrew Megalithic Complex, Carnbane East
Another view from Cairn V of Cairn T, Loughcrew Megalithic Complex
Cairn S
The Equinox Stone in the chamber of Cairn T which is illuminated by the sun at sunrise on the Spring and Autumnal Equinoxes
Cairn T passage to chamber
Loughcrew decorated stone – rock art
The “energy” seeming to emanate from this stone is coincidental internal camera flare
Cairn T with Cairn S in the foreground
The entrance to the west chamber
Detail of the west chamber
The east part of the site
The subsidiary chamber
The east gallery with the subsidiary chamber to the left
Farranmacbride Court Tomb, Glencolmcille, Co Donegal, Ireland
Kilnasaggart pillar stone, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland
Click here for more information on an earlier post
Not the famous one that’s a bit further north up the R261 but a small portal tomb surrounded by reeds
“Other” Kilclooney More Dolmen (Portal Tomb), Co Donegal, Ireland
Ballymacdermot Court Tomb, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland
Looking into the gallery from the court
The entrance to the gallery from the court
The view from behind the chambers
Ballard Standing Stone aka the Long Stone, Armagh, Northern Ireland
The stone lies just of a narrow winding road in the beautiful countryside of south Armagh
Creevykeel Court Tomb, Co. Sligo, Ireland. Entrance to Creevykeel Court Tomb
The court with the remains of a kiln from early christian times
The view from inside the gallery
Doon Standing Stone, Co Sligo, Ireland
The same stone… in the next field there is another Standing Stone but local flooding prevented approach
Ballybriest Wedge Tomb – aka Carnanbane, Co Derry, Northern Ireland
Ballybriest Wedge Tomb is situated 100mtr (approx.) south of Ballybriest Court Tomb
Coolbeg Wedge Tomb, Drumcliff, Co Sligo, Ireland
Coolbeg Wedge Tomb lies beside the Drumcliff River a short distance from Drumcliff Round Tower, High Cross and the grave of WB Yeats.
The Giant’s Griddle – Tawnatruffaun Dolmen, Co Sligo, Ireland
West face of the Janus statue in Caldragh graveyard
Caldragh graveyard, Boa Island, Co Fermanagh, Northen Ireland
East face of the Janus statue on Boa Island
Clonlum South Megalithic Tomb, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland
Ally Court Tomb, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Killadeas – The Bishop’s Stone
Killadeas, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
Killadeas – Standing Stone
Killadeas – Cross anb Cupmarked Slab
Killadeas – Holed Stone
Loughry Wedge Tomb, Co tyrone, northern Ireland
Ballybriest Court Tomb – aka Carnanbane, Co Derry, Northern Ireland
Entrance to the western gallery
The western gallery from the back
The entrance to the gallery and the western court
The remains of the court at the western gallery
The ruin of Carnabane (Ballybriest) Double Court Tomb
Moneygashel Portal Tomb, Co Cavan, Ireland
Moneygashel Dolmen is located a short distance from Moneygashel Cashel
The track leading to Moneygashel stone fort
Moneygashel Cashel, Co Cavan, Ireland
The entrance to the cashel
Inside the cashel with a view to the south
The building attached to the wall of Moneygashel Stone Fort
West court of Aghnaglack Court Tomb, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
The east court of this double court tomb
Rock Art, Whiteabbey (Lough shore), Co Antrim, Northern Ireland
Caldragh graveyard pagan statue, Boa Island, Lower Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
The west face of the idols
East face of the two pagan statues in Caldragh graveyard
Scraghy Portal Tomb, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland
The standing stone close to Scraghy Portal Tomb
The three Wedge Tombs at the overgrown Chasheltown site. The 2 stones in the foreground are part of a kerb that encircles the tombs
The largest of the Casheltown Wedge Tombs with the smallest just to the right
The overgrown site in colour
The smallest of the tombs
Boulder Burial, Dunteige, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland
Leitrim Portal Tomb, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Clochafarmore Standing Stone aka Cuchulain’s Stone, Co Louth, Ireland
In the Irish saga the Táin Bó Cuailgne (The Cattle Raid of Cooley) Cú Chulainn (the hero of Ulster) is said to have tied himself to a standing stone when mortally wounded. While tied to the stone his enemies feared approaching thinking he lived until the battle goddess Morrigu (Morrígan) lands on his shoulder in the form of a raven. When sure he is dead they approach and Lugaid beheads Cú Chulainn whose sword falls and slices of Lugaid’s right hand, in revenge they cut off Cú Chulainn’s hand.
Rathlackan Court Tomb, Co Mayo, Ireland
The east facing entrance to the gallery
The court from the east
Looking down on the gallery entrance and first chamber
The gallery as viewed from the back (west)
Rathfranpark Wedge Tomb, Co Mayo, Ireland
Dolmen of the Four Maols, Ballina, Co Mayo, Ireland
Drumanone Portal Tomb aka Tinnacarra Dolmen, Co Roscommon, Ireland
Annaghmore Portal Tomb, Co Leitrim, Ireland
Aghnacliff Portal Tomb, Co Longford, Ireland
Cleenrah Dolmen aka Cleenrath, Aughnacliff, Co Longford, Ireland
Moytura aka Moytirra East Court Tomb, Co Sligo, Ireland
Kilclooney More Dolmen (Portal Tomb), Co Donegal, Ireland
The portal tomb viewed from the south (above)
…viewed from the south east (above)
… viewed from the east (above)
… viewed from the north east (above)
… viewed from the north (above)
and viewed from the north west (above)
Farranmacbride Court Tomb, Glencolmcille, Co Donegal, Ireland
Ballybriest Court Tomb aka Carnanbane, Co Derry, Northern Ireland
Entrance to the western gallery
The right side of the court at the western gallery
Kilclooney More Court Tomb, Co Donegal, Ireland. The west end of the tomb
The east entrance to the tomb
The court tomb viewed from the north east