Jim Leary

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A photo of a large, grey square building with a white door.

A visit to the Burren also means a trip to see this iconic house. Who else hears the title music when they see it?
#FatherTed

Another photo of the dolmen - grey stone slabs on grass and wildflowers.

The monument dates to between 5,800 and 5,200 years ago. Among the human remains from the site is the earliest known case of Down syndrome.

A photo of grey, limestone box-like monument made of flat slabs of stone.

A photograph of the flat, stoney landscape of the Burren. Wildflowers grow between the cracks in the stone.

Another iconic monument ticked off the bucket list. Poulnabrone dolmen is one of Ireland's most photographed and photogenic monuments. It is set in the desolate and magnificent landscape of the Burren, Co Clare.
#TombTuesday #Neolithic #Ireland

A photo of one of the Carrowkeel passage tombs. Grey stones piled over bright green grass and a doorway like a portal into the mound.

A photo of one of the Carrowkeel passage tombs. Grey stones forming a mound surrounded by green grass and purple heather.

A photo of one of the Carrowkeel passage tombs. A grey stony doorway forms the portal into the mound.

A photo of one of the Carrowkeel passage tombs in the distance and surrounded by green grass and purple heather. Two people walk around the mound and a dog lies in the heather in the foreground.

Carrowkeel in Co Sligo, Ireland, is one of the most extraordinary Neolithic sites I’ve visited. The passage tombs are set in the Bricklieve Mountains (Speckled Mountain) and overlook Lough Arrow. The views, the sky, the purpling heather - magical! 🏺
#StandingStoneSunday

Not many places have that power.

A magical memory! I don’t think I’ll forget my visit either.

Oh, I missed the falcon!

A photo of one of the Carrowkeel passage tombs. Grey stones piled over bright green grass and a doorway like a portal into the mound.

A photo of one of the Carrowkeel passage tombs. Grey stones forming a mound surrounded by green grass and purple heather.

A photo of one of the Carrowkeel passage tombs. A grey stony doorway forms the portal into the mound.

A photo of one of the Carrowkeel passage tombs in the distance and surrounded by green grass and purple heather. Two people walk around the mound and a dog lies in the heather in the foreground.

Carrowkeel in Co Sligo, Ireland, is one of the most extraordinary Neolithic sites I’ve visited. The passage tombs are set in the Bricklieve Mountains (Speckled Mountain) and overlook Lough Arrow. The views, the sky, the purpling heather - magical! 🏺
#StandingStoneSunday

A photo of the Knowth macehead on mottled brown and white stone and showing a spiral pattern.

A photo of the Knowth macehead on mottled brown and white stone and showing a spiral pattern.

This exquisitely carved 5000-year-old ceremonial macehead is one of Neolithic Europe’s finest works of art. Excavated from the passage tomb at Knowth in the Boyne Valley, Ireland, it is less than 8cm long and made of a hard, mottled cream-coloured flint. #FindsFriday #Neolithic

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The balance of evidence puts it firmly on the ‘ceremonial’ side. But other interpretations are available.

Yes, much ink has been spent considering it, and most come down on the side of ceremonial. It’s highly decorated, likely the work of a specialist craft worker, and is in mint condition so was never actually used as a macehead. It was also buried in a ceremonial monument alongside human remains.

A photo of the Knowth macehead on mottled brown and white stone and showing a spiral pattern.

A photo of the Knowth macehead on mottled brown and white stone and showing a spiral pattern.

This exquisitely carved 5000-year-old ceremonial macehead is one of Neolithic Europe’s finest works of art. Excavated from the passage tomb at Knowth in the Boyne Valley, Ireland, it is less than 8cm long and made of a hard, mottled cream-coloured flint. #FindsFriday #Neolithic

A photo of the main mound at Loughcrew, showing the entrance to the passage tomb (with a closed gate across it). A dog walking in front for scale.

A photo of the view inside the passage tomb showing megaliths, some with pecked art on.

A view of the main mound from afar. Looking a bit like Silbury Hill.

A photo of the dog looking whimsically out across the landscape.

For #TombTuesday, I offer this beauty: the main passage tomb at Loughcrew, near Oldcastle in County Meath, Ireland. It has a series of smaller satellite tombs around it. The monuments sit on a series of hills and date to the Middle Neolithic period, around 5000 years ago.

Yep, it’s all open and there are tours of the site. Carrowmore is temporarily closed, though.

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A photo of a large throne-like stone. Dog for scale.

The hills and tombs are called Slieve na Calliagh. According to legend, the cairns were formed by a witch scattering rocks as she leapt from hill to hill. As she made her final leap, she fell and broke her neck. This photo shows the hag’s chair, where you can sit and make a wish.

A photo of the main mound at Loughcrew, showing the entrance to the passage tomb (with a closed gate across it). A dog walking in front for scale.

A photo of the view inside the passage tomb showing megaliths, some with pecked art on.

A view of the main mound from afar. Looking a bit like Silbury Hill.

A photo of the dog looking whimsically out across the landscape.

For #TombTuesday, I offer this beauty: the main passage tomb at Loughcrew, near Oldcastle in County Meath, Ireland. It has a series of smaller satellite tombs around it. The monuments sit on a series of hills and date to the Middle Neolithic period, around 5000 years ago.

A photo of one of the stone recesses. The lintel stone is decorated with lozenges.

A photo of another stone lintel decorated with zigzags.

A photo of the small narrow passage, looking from the inside out.

A photo of the outside of the tomb.

Fourknocks passage tomb in Co. Meath, Ireland. Built in the Middle Neolithic period, the passage leads to a vast pear-shaped chamber, initially with a wooden roof supported on a central pole. Three small recesses contained 65 adults and children. 🏺

I really like the idea that it’s replicating the pattern on textiles.

Thanks Linda.

You must - it’s well worth it.

Thanks Dan.

A photo of a slab of rock with the engraving of a crude face and two lozenge-shaped eyes.

It has some of the finest rock art from the Neolithic period. Including this, one of the few representations of a human face.

A photo of one of the stone recesses. The lintel stone is decorated with lozenges.

A photo of another stone lintel decorated with zigzags.

A photo of the small narrow passage, looking from the inside out.

A photo of the outside of the tomb.

Fourknocks passage tomb in Co. Meath, Ireland. Built in the Middle Neolithic period, the passage leads to a vast pear-shaped chamber, initially with a wooden roof supported on a central pole. Three small recesses contained 65 adults and children. 🏺

A photograph of a rock with a pecked engraving of three intersecting spirals.

A photograph of a rock with the engraving of two spirals and a lozenge. The spirals form eyes and the lozenge a nose.

A photograph of the reconstructed quartz outer facade and kerbstones of Newgrange passage tomb.

A photo of the reconstructed entrance to the passage at Newgrange.

Monumentally iconic.
Sí an Bhrú or Newgrange passage tomb in County Meath, Ireland. 🏺#Neolithic #Archaeology #Ireland

A photograph of a rock with a pecked engraving of three intersecting spirals.

A photograph of a rock with the engraving of two spirals and a lozenge. The spirals form eyes and the lozenge a nose.

A photograph of the reconstructed quartz outer facade and kerbstones of Newgrange passage tomb.

A photo of the reconstructed entrance to the passage at Newgrange.

Monumentally iconic.
Sí an Bhrú or Newgrange passage tomb in County Meath, Ireland. 🏺#Neolithic #Archaeology #Ireland

Thank you, Alan.

Oh excellent! Gorgeous place.