| Brownhill Dolmen, co. Carlow. This is the largest capstone in all of Europe: 53 tonnes! It is classed as a portal tomb as it is constructed in the usual way for tombs but has never been excavated and is not built on a small mound as per usual. |
| Somewhere in co. Armagh (NI), on our way to see a dolmen in co. Down, we paused to enjoy this view of the twilight sky and the distant Mourne Mountains. |
| Legananny Dolmen, co. Down (NI). The name comes from the Irish "Cloch an Aine", or "Aine's Stone". It is situated near "Windy Gap", a designated area of outstanding natural beauty overlooking the Mourne Mountains. |
| While driving back home after visiting Legananny Dolmen, we passed through this place somewhere in county Down. This archway was probably constructed by paramilitary loyalists due to the "Red Hand" flag in the upper left corner. Vaguely visible in the background is a bus that passed us as we parked to take this photo. It was full of Loyalist teenagers, members of a group called the "Apprentice Boys", who were on their way to a march the following morning. |
| The interior of the main passage mound in Loughcrew Megalithic Cemetary. This hill is also known as Sliabh na Calleach, "Hill of the Hag". In the semi-darkness of the interior (which is also cruciform in its side chambers like most passage mounds) the carvings stand out quite strikingly. |
| Sliabh na Calleach, outside. |
| One of the sattelite chambers adjacent to the main mound, Sliabh na Calleach. Its roof has caved in, but the carvings are still visible. |
| Newgrange, or Brugh na Boinne, "House on the river Boinne", as seen from the top of Dowth (a short distance away). |
| Ruins of the Rock of Dunmase, a Norman castle complex in county Laoise. The Norman conquerer Strongbow spent the night before his marriage at the Rock of Cashel, co. Tipperary, and the wedding itself took place here. On the other side of this hill is the town where my father was born. |
(c) 2002 by B. Cathbad Myers. All rights reserved.