Loughcrew Cairns -some info

kevo79

Hello.

Could anyone help with some directions or how to go about getting to Loughcrew from Dublin by bus.

I am hoping to do some drawing for a project on Megalithic stones etc.

I was on buseireann website and they run a bus to oldcastle for around € 20 return.

Does anyone know how far Loughcrew is from there walking?

Also where I could get a key for access to the different cairns?

Thanks for any help offered.

kevo79

Just wondering how far is Sliabh na Cailliaghe from the main Loughcrew area??

thanks

Riamfada

You could walk it from Oldcastle alright, it would probably take about 40 minutes though not including the walk up the hill.

AngryHippie

Last time I was there (years ago) the key was available (deposit required) from a resident at the bottom of the hill, not sure if this is the case anymore.
Its a bit of a trek from oldacstle town, but it is do-able. The two hills are about 2km apart, but you do need permission from the landowner to access the northwest site, the other one has a pathway and is easily accessible.

Make sure you pick a fine day to go, it will be a misery if it is raining as there is no cover on the hill at all.

bawn79

U still need the key, €50 deposit and an ID have to be left at the Loughcrew tearooms.

Could you go to Newgrange instead? If you head out there early this time of year it would be really quiet. I went a few years ago (in november) and it was just me and the guide in the tomb. You can get a bus to Drogheda easy enough and I presume there are buses from Drogheda station to Newgrange. You could also break off from the tour and walk over to Dowth which I'd say is only about a 15-20 walk from Newgrange.

MidlandsM

U could get a taxi out of oldcastle to Loughcrew. It's only be approx €5 each way.

kevo79

Thanks for all the info and replies.

I will be at Newgrange for the winter solstice, and have been there a good few times. I have never been to Loughcrew, the trek would be ok, the only thing after checking the bus times I don't want to miss the last bus back. If I did maybe a taxi to Virginia could be an option.

Thanks again. Replies much appreciated.

AngryHippie

Kells would be almost as close I reckon

bawn79

Have you ever read this book?

Monu-Mental About Prehistoric Dublin

or checked out www.megalithomania.com

Shows there are lots of megaliths within the county of dublin to visit also.

kevo79

hi bawn,

thanks for the link to toms site...

Any of you on here know when Anthony Murphy is releasing his new book?

Read the last one, Island of the setting sun. Really interesting book.

The megalithic Ireland site hasn't been updated in a while.

bawn79

kevo79 wrote: »

hi bawn,

thanks for the link to toms site...

Any of you on here know when Anthony Murphy is releasing his new book?

Read the last one, Island of the setting sun. Really interesting book.

The megalithic Ireland site hasn't been updated in a while.

http://newgrangemonument.blogspot.ie/

Says 25th Oct on his blog here. I met Anthony Murphy once and chatted online to him. Very nice fella.

kevo79

Cool. Hopefully he does a couple of talks around the book launch. great to hear someone talking about the Monuments without the tomb word....:)

jonniebgood1

A few points.

The best suggestion is get a taxi out and if you feel like walking then walk down the hill and back to Oldcastle that way. The location of the keys is also not convenient for walking from the town of Oldcastle as it is further from the town than the Cairns. If you were to miss the bus a taxi to Kells would be your best option. Local taxi number Halpins 049-8541339 - they are at the bottom of the mountain that the Cairn is on or there are other taxis in the town.

The Cairns are interesting- There are less famous ones on neighbouring hills (i.e. within walking distance) although these are on private farm lands and I am not sure where keys for these are but they are gated. I visited these in younger days and was able to slide under the gate at the time :eek: . There are church services held there during the solstice for some reason unknown to me!

AngryHippie

I'm pretty sure that its a memorial for when church services were held there during the penal laws, the altars there were used as mass rocks.