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Loughcrew Equinox - September 2012

Access to Loughcrew Cairn T

Cairn T has been closed to the public since October 2018. There is currently no access to the interior of the chamber on equinox mornings. Visitors may still gather outside the cairn to watch the sunrise.

The equinox illumination of Loughcrew Cairn T is a remarkable phenomenon where sunlight aligns with the passage and chamber of the ancient megalithic structure during the equinox. Specifically designed to capture this celestial event, Cairn T at Loughcrew becomes illuminated as the sun rises, casting light down the passage and into the chamber.

Silhouettes of kerbstones and visitors at Loughcrew against a bright orange sunrise behind layered clouds At Loughcrew Cairn T the rising sun on the mornings around the equinox illuminates the passage and chamber.

The precision in the construction of Cairn T allows for this captivating play of light and shadow during the equinox, creating a stunning spectacle that underscores the ancient builders' astronomical knowledge and architectural expertise. The event serves as a testament to the alignment of ancient structures with celestial events, possibly having symbolic or ritualistic significance for the people who constructed and used these monuments.

Crowds climbing Cairn T at Loughcrew at dawn, with kerbstones in the foreground and visitors on the grassy mound The people who made the effort to get up early were rewarded by a glorious sunrise that illuminated the backstone in Cairn T.
Crowds gathered at Cairn T, Loughcrew, for the spring equinox sunrise, with visitors on the grassy mound and at the entrance The OPW staff allowed groups of 5 or 6 to enter Cairn T to experience the illumination of the chamber.
Sunbeam illuminating a chamber stone at Cairn T, Loughcrew, as two visitors photograph the alignment inside the dark tomb Sunbeam on the backstone of the chamber inside Cairn T - Photo by Ken Williams.

Loughcrew Video - Spring Equinox 2005

The progress of the sunbeam on the backstone inside Cairn T at Loughcrew was video recorded at sunrise on the morning of March 23rd 2005. The 50 minute recording is compressed to 1 minute 46 seconds.
Tall view of equinox sunlight illuminating sun symbols, zigzags and ladder motifs on the Cairn T backstone at Loughcrew Equinox sunlight on the backstone in Cairn T.

Loughcrew Equinox Archive

Trip Advisor Review

We cannot recommend Michael highly enough. Our day with him was educational and thought provoking, and also humbling and magical. His knowledge of ancient Irish history was remarkable. Read the full TripAdvisor review