Site Type: Passage Tomb
Irish Grid Ref: N5863877607
Location: Link to Bing Maps
Description:
The passage tomb is described on Archaeology.ie as follows;
"Cairn U. Excavated by Conwell and later by Rotherham, this kerbed cairn contains remains of an unroofed passage-tomb open to SE, having four cells, opening off a central chamber; outer passage section is blocked. There are thirteen decorated orthostats. (Herity 1974, 242-3; Shee 1981, 217-19)"
Martin Brennan and his team are credited with identifying this alignment during their research in the early 1980s. It is currently unroofed but would have been roofed when originally constructed. In the Stone of Time Martin Brennan comments that Cairn U is aligned to "indicate the cross-quarter days on 8 November & 4 February, marking the beginning of winter and spring".
I've conducted a brief search for pictures of the sunrise on the cross quarter day at this cairn but can't seem to find any online which is unusual for what is a reasonably accessible cairn to visit.
Links to photographs;
Picture of Cairn U by the www.modernantiquarian.com contributor Andy Ryan
Links for further information;
More information on Cairn U at www.mythicalireland.com
