Perched high on the hills of County Meath, the Loughcrew Cairns are among the oldest known structures in Ireland—older even than the pyramids of Egypt. These Neolithic passage tombs, scattered across rolling slopes, form a sacred landscape built by ancient hands over 5,000 years ago. The most prominent, Cairn T, is perfectly aligned with the rising sun on the spring and autumn equinoxes, when sunlight pierces the narrow passage and illuminates the carvings within.

Loughcrew Cairns

Walking among these cairns, we weren’t just sightseeing—we were stepping into prehistory. The wind was strong, the hills quiet, and the sense of age almost overwhelming. Spirals, suns, and stars etched into stone still whisper of a people who understood the sky and honored their dead with remarkable precision. It was a humbling, spiritual place—raw and wild, yet deeply human.

After exploring the ancient tombs of Loughcrew, we made an unexpected but fitting stop at Apache Pizza in Mullingar. The name alone reminded us of home—Utah—and stepping inside only deepened the connection. The walls were decorated with images of desert landscapes, red rock canyons, and mesas that looked like they were pulled straight from Monument Valley. It felt surreal to see familiar southwestern scenery so far from the American West, tucked into a cozy Irish pizza shop. The food was hot, the service friendly, and the atmosphere oddly comforting—a little taste of Utah in the heart of Ireland.

Loughcrew’s ancient cairns rest on misty hilltops, older than the pyramids, their stones aligned with the sun and wrapped in myth. This sacred site whispers tales of goddesses, kings, and rituals lost to time — a place where the veil between worlds still feels thin. As you explore the captions below, each one offers a glimpse into the mysteries that linger among these timeless stones.
The Loughcrew Cairns date back to around 3200 BCE, making them among the oldest structures in the world.
Older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
Uniquely, the Loughcrew tombs were constructed on hilltops
Unlike most other passage tombs in Ireland, which were placed in lowlands or valleys.
This gives Loughcrew spectacular views—and a celestial vantage.
Cairn T, the largest and most famous tomb, is aligned with the rising sun during the spring and autumn equinoxes.
On those mornings, sunlight enters the tomb and illuminates the backstone decorated with solar symbols.
The site spans three hilltops—Carnbane East, Carnbane West, and Patrickstown.
They originally contained 30–40 cairns, though only some remain intact today.
The stones inside the chambers are decorated with carvings of spirals, stars, suns, and lozenges.
Believed to hold astronomical or ritual meaning.
There are several myths associated with Loughcrew.
The first is .... The Witch of Loughcrew (Hag’s Chair).
According to local legend, a powerful witch leapt from hilltop to hilltop.
She dropped stones from her apron to create the cairns.
She is said to have fallen and died on the final leap.
Her seat became the stone now known as the Hag’s Chair at Cairn T.
The Hag’s Chair wasn’t just a place to sit.
It may have served as a judicial or ceremonial seat.
It's long been considered a place of fertility magic and healing.
Loughcrew is believed to have been a site of sun worship.
With the tombs possibly used to mark key solar events.
And honor deities of light, life, and renewal.
In Irish folklore, ancient tombs are often seen as gateways to the Otherworld.
Locals long believed that the cairns were inhabited by fairies.
Disturbing them would bring misfortune.
The site’s name in Irish—Slieve na Calliagh, or “Hill of the Witch”.
The site is also linked to early Irish kingship rituals and later Christian pilgrimage.
Blending pagan and Christian significance over time.
At the entrance to cairn T, look for solar discs and intersecting lines.
These are believed to track seasonal changes.
Locals often say “the harder the climb, the older the wisdom”.
A nod to the spiritual effort involved in reaching the sacred summit.
Mist and light on the hills can create eerie, spiritual moments.
As if the ancient spirits are still watching.
Loughcrew left us with damp feet, windblown hair...
...and the unmistakable feeling that we had walked through something ancient and sacred.
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