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The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map : Index >>
Stones Forum >> List of passage mounds in Ireland with Solstice or Equinox alignment?
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List of passage mounds in Ireland with Solstice or Equinox alignment? |
Andy B
Joined:
13-02-2001
Messages: 7001
from Surrey, UK
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|  Posted 27-12-2012 at 00:54
an.eile writes:
Do you know of any source from which I could extract a list of all the passage mounds in Ireland with Solstice or Equinox alignments?
Keep up the good work with the newsletter - Merry Solstice.
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Runemage
Joined:
15-07-2005
Messages: 2412
from UK
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| Posted 27-12-2012 at 12:20
I don't think there is one, that's a nice project for anyone who's interested though, please post the results here.
Martin Brennan discovered quite a few orientations to the older dates of festivals, so his books are a good place to start.
Off the top of my head...Co Meath has a large concentration. Look all of these up on our site pages using our search box, then explore the wider 'net for articles.
Newgrange Winter Solstice Sunrise, possible Venus connotation, possible lunar connotation.
Knowth has 2 opposite passages, both equinoxes sunrise and sunsets. Possible lunar rise and set.
Dowth North and South http://www.newgrange.com/dowth.htm
Fourknocks http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/fourknocks/
Loughcrew CairnT and Cairn L and the others http://www.carrowkeel.com/sites/loughcrew/cairnj.html http://www.carrowkeel.com/sites/loughcrew/cairnt.html
Mound of the Hostages at Tara cross quarter sunrises http://www.knowth.com/tara-orthostat.htm
Carrowmore in Sligo has the impressive Listoghil and all the others in the complex
Knocknarea
Doubtless there's the view that at some point in the year the rising or setting sun/moon/some planets and stars will be aligned to any passage mound, allowing the difference in angles between then and now, but I think it's safe to assume that at the very least, any with carvings depicting what we believe to be sun symbols that are illuminated by the rising or setting sun on certain dates do prove intentionality of the builders.
I'm sure there are many more, please add to this list with info on orientation and its source.
Rune
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ainsloch
Joined:
04-08-2012
Messages: 26
from Belfast
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| Posted 28-12-2012 at 02:22
Hi Rune, pretty comprehensive list there. The passage mound atop Slieve Gullion in Armagh is the highest which survives intact in Ireland today, and is aligned to the winter solstice sunset - similar to Dowth with lies on the same longitude. The entrance passage also happens to point to Loughcrew.
http://www.newgrange.com/slieve-gullion.htm
I happen to live in Ireland and have visited all the sites you have listed - the Boyne Valley tends to get most of the press and rightly so, however Sligo is an incredible place for megalithic remains. I visited again recently and was able to cover Carrowkeel in the morning, the Labby Rock dolmen and Heapstown Cairn midday and finish with a climb to Meabh's Cairn on Knocknarea in the afternoon - exhilerating stuff. Sligo also has the largest court cairn in Ireland, Creevykeel.
Mind you I have a tour planned for southern England and Wales this spring all being well - can't wait!
Ainsloch
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