Take the opportunity to visit & explore the historic Megalithic Monuments Sligo is famous for …
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, only 25 minutes from Mount Edward Lodge, is the largest and one of the most important, megalithic sites in Europe. Over 60 tombs have been located by archaeologists. The oldest pre-dates Newgrange by 700 years and is older than the pyramids.
Tombs are accessible and a restored cottage houses a small exhibition relating to the site. Visitors are advised to wear shoes suitable for walking on uneven terrain. For more information on Carrowmore visit Megalithic Ireland.
Creevykeel Court Tomb
Creevykeel Court Tomb, only 15 minutes from Mount Edward Lodge, is one of the best examples of a court tomb in Ireland. It consists of a long, trapeze shaped cairn, enclosing an oval court and a burial chamber of two compartments. The court was where rituals were performed.
The remains of three single chambered subsidiary tombs are present at the western end of the monument. The cairn measures 55m in length and 25m wide at the eastern end, where the entrance to the court is located.
A lintel stone, which was found in the chamber during excavations was re-erected, as well as caps and two jambs at the entrance. Paving stones were uncovered at the entrance and between the jamb stones of the second burial. For more information on Creevykeel visit Voices from the Dawn and Megalithic Ireland.
Carrowkeel Megalithic Complex
Carrowkeel is a Neolithic passage tomb cemetery in the south of County Sligo, 45 minutes from Mount Edward Lodge. CArbon Dating dating places the tombs at Carrowkeel between 5400 and 5100 years old (3400 to 3100 BC), so that they predate the Pyramids on Egypt’s Giza plateau by 500–800 years.
Carrowkeel is set on high ground above Lough Arrow, and the tombs seem to be oriented towards the area of Cuil Irra, Knocknarea and Carrowmore. There are fourteen passage tombs in Carrowkeel. Some can be entered by crawling through a narrow passage. For more information on Carrowkeel visit The Sacred Island.
