LOUGHCREW, Co. MEATH
Discovery map # 42
Most of these sites at this location are open to the general
public at all times, except for Cairns L & T which are under lock and
key. The best way to access Loughcrew is from Oldcastle town by
travelling East on the R154 road and then taking a right hand turn
onto a 3rd class road that will lead up to a car park and the cairns.
Alternatively you can come at them from the East by taking the
R163 road from Kells proper for about 5 miles until you come to
Patrickstown fork in the road. Take the left fork and you will start to
see the hill top cairns on your right side. Travel about a mile down
that road and you will be at a right hand turn that leads to the car
park up a 3rd class road. Be advised that the road is narrow, and has
some twists and turns to it. Drive slowly you could meet oncoming
traffic, although its rare.
For the big cairns L & T you will need to obtain a key from
the keyholder to open the gates at the entrances. Up to a couple
of years ago that was Basil Balfe at the base of the cairns, at the
end of the 3rd class road ,on the south side of the ridge. Today,
apparently it is a woman living at the North side base of the ridge,
same 3rd class road. I don't have her name or her exact whereabouts.
But if in doubt, find a local Post office, they should know.
All the other cairns are readily accessible to allcomers, day and
night so this makes for some great night time photography
opportunities.
All viewings cone onto the back wall of the cairns except for
the large Cairns L & T which cone onto the back wall and the right
side recess(Cairn L) and right side end orthostat(Cairn T), as seen
by looking in.
Cairn T, Carnbane East
Full Moons
| Date | Start Time | End Time |
| Mar 04, 2007 |
7:10 pm |
7: 21 pm |
| Apr 02, 2007 |
7:21 pm |
7:33 pm |
| Sep 26, 2007 |
6:05 pm |
6:18 pm |
| Sep 14, 2008 |
6:20 pm |
6:36 pm |
Sunrise
| StartDate/ Time | EndDate/ Time |
| Sep 19, each year/ 6:17 am |
Oct 15, each year/ 7:03 am |
Cairn L,(Cairns H & U) Carnbane West
Part of Cairn L's azimuth range will show up in Cairn H, as
H's azimuth ranges from 110° - 115°. So therefore check
this cairn H on the same hilltop for anything that appears between the
end wall and the standing stone inside Cairn L. Check also for
anything appearing in Cairn U (107° - 108°) when something
hits the back wall of Cairn L.
Full Moons
| Date | Start Time | End Time |
| Apr 05, 2004 |
7:32 pm |
7:42 pm |
| May 4, 2004 |
8:02 pm |
8:08 pm |
| Aug 30, 2004 |
8:00 pm |
8:10 pm |
| Mar 25, 2005 |
6:36 pm |
6:47 pm |
| Mar 26, 2005 |
7:56 pm |
8:06 pm |
| Apr 23, 2005 |
6:56 pm |
7:07 pm |
| Apr 24, 2005 |
8:24 pm |
8:35 pm |
| Aug 19, 2005 |
8:16 pm |
8:27 pm |
| Aug 20, 2005 |
8:27 pm |
8:38 pm |
| Sep 17, 2005 |
6:44 pm |
7:04 pm |
| Sep 18, 2005 |
6:53 pm |
6:55 pm |
| Mar 15, 2006 |
7:27 pm |
7:39 pm |
| Apr 13, 2006 |
7:44 pm |
8:00 pm |
| Sep 07, 2006 |
7:13 pm |
7:26 pm |
| Sep 08, 2006 |
7:23 pm |
7:38 pm |
| Apr 02, 2007 |
7:21 pm |
7:33 pm |
| Apr 03, 2007 |
8:35 pm |
8:51 pm |
| Aug 07, 2007 |
7:37 pm |
7:51 pm |
| Sep 26, 2007 |
6:05 pm |
6:18 pm |
| Mar 21, 2008 |
6:57 pm |
7:12 pm |
| Mar 22, 2008 |
8:14 pm |
8:27 pm |
| Aug 16, 2008 |
7:51 pm |
8:06 pm |
| Aug 17, 2008 |
8:03 pm |
8:17 pm |
| Sep 14, 2008 |
6:20 pm |
6:36 pm |
| Mar 11, 2009 |
7:34 pm |
7:50 pm |
| Apr 09, 2009 |
7:55 pm |
8:11 pm |
| Sep 04, 2009 |
6:50 pm |
7:05 pm |
| Mar 29, 2010 |
6:51 pm |
7:09 pm |
| Mar 30, 2010 |
8:21 pm |
8:38 pm |
| Jul 26, 2019 |
8:37 pm |
8:53 pm |
| Aug 24, 2010 |
7:12 pm |
7:29 pm |
| Aug 25, 2010 |
7:25 pm |
7:38 pm |
Total Lunar Eclipse
This occurs on May 4, 2004 and can be seen briefly,at 8:05 pm by
standing at the standing stone, on the right side recess, inside
Cairn L.
Sunrise
| StartDate/ Time | EndDate/ Time |
| Sep 19, each year/ 6 :13 am |
Nov 13, each year/ 7:59 am |
Cairns I & F
Full Moons
Whatever appears in Cairn I ,will also appear simultaneously
in Cairn F as the azimuth ranges are almost the same. Cairn I's
azimuth is an extra 2 ° to the East so I've included them together.
| Date | Start Time | End Time |
| Mar 07, 2004 |
7:09 pm |
7:13 pm |
| Mar 14, 2006 |
6:14 pm |
6:21 pm |
| Oct 06, 2006 |
5:34 pm |
5:42 pm |
| Mar 03, 2007 |
5:53 pm |
6:06 pm |
Sunrise
| StartDate/ Time | EndDate/ Time |
| Sep 06, each year/ 5:54 am |
Sep15, each year/ 6:10 am |
Cairn S
Now this Cairn will be very interesting for photo opportunities
as it aligns to a large body of water, Lough Sheelin, to the WNW.
So Sunsets and Moonsets will give unusual pictures as their light
will be reflected off the lough.
Full Moonsets
| Date | Start Time | End Time |
| Oct 28, 2004 |
7:41 am |
7:44 am |
| Oct 18, 2005 |
8:21 am |
8:24 am |
| Sep 28, 2007 |
8:54 am |
9:00 am |
| Oct 15, 2008 |
8:03 am |
8:06 am |
| Oct 05, 2009 |
8:22 pm |
8:25 pm |
| Oct 22, 2010 |
6:42 am |
6:45 am |
Sunsets
| StartDate/ Time | EndDate/ Time |
| Aug 8, each year/ 6:59 pm |
Aug 12, each year/ 7:09 pm |
| Apr 29, each year/ 7:42 pm |
May 6, each year/ 7:56 pm |
