Carrowmore Megalithic Tombs

Did you know that Carrowmore is a megalithic cemetery dating back 6,000 years! That is older than the pyramids of Egypt. The structures are amazing - how the top table (dolman) is sets on the upright boulders covering the burial site and it has stood for all this time. How important did you have to be to be buried here?

As you walk further into the field, you come across an extremely large collection of rocks. These rocks form protective sides to a well preserved dolman. Entering into the open air passage, it is amazing to think of just how many rocks are here. The site is well maintained and the rocks are held back by strong fencing.

Walking around Carrowmore, I noticed another far off mountain with a 'pimple' on it. (Well, that's what it reminded me of). Turns out that 'pimple' is the Tomb of the Warrior Queen Maeve atop Knocknarea Mountain and the tomb (cairn) measures 55 meters in diameter and 10 meters high. (For all us non-metric folks, that's 180 feet wide by 33 feet high). That, my friend, is a lot of rocks.

Visiting Queen Maeve's tomb is another item on my List when I return to Ireland.

While most of the dolmans are out in the open, one was buried in the cairn (to the right).

And, YES, those are bales of hay which were harvested. I guess I arrived too late for the hay gathering!

That is quite an entry

way and a lot of rocks

to create this cairn.

Apparently, they didn't believe in cremation or

it was too easy!

Now, about that 'pimple'...

Queen Maeve (in Old Irish 'Medb' translates to 'she who intoxicates') was rumored to have had nine husbands (DAMN, I thought three were too many!). According to Wikipedia, historians suggest that she was originally a "sovereignty goddess", whom a king would ritually marry as part of his inauguration. It is likely that the sacred marriage ceremony between the king and the goddess would involve a shared drink. (Okay, I could get behind a ritual marriage and having a few drinks.)

Folklore tells that Queen Maeve is buried in full battle clothing sitting atop her war horse facing her enemies in Ulster. Her cairn has never been excavated.

You go, girl!

Queen Maeve's Tomb taken

at 1/3 zoom and then at full zoom below.

DID YOU KNOW?

It is bad luck to take a stone from Queen Maeve's tomb but good luck if you bring one with you to leave behind.

In that case, I should bring a lot of rocks, because I need some major good luck!

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