Aghnaskeagh Cairns, Louth

Aghnaskeagh Complex

Portal Tomb

Hidden away in the townland of Aghnaskeagh and surrounded by dry stone walls are two very interesting cairns just 35 metres apart. The first and most northerly of these cairns has a portal tomb it's the northern end, the capstone and sidestone are missing. Two huge portal stones, each 2.8 metres high, and a back stone are all that remains of the portal tomb. Six bronze age cists tombs were later additions to the southern end of this egg shaped cairn. The easiest way to access the site is through a small dairy, permission must be granted before visiting.

Aghnaskeagh Complex Portal Tomb Hidden away in the townland of Aghnaskeagh and surrounded by dry stone walls are two very interesting cairns just 35 metres apart. The first and most northerly of these cairns has a portal tomb it's the northern end, the capstone and sidestone are missing. Two huge portal stones, each 2.8 metres high, and a back stone are all that remains of the portal tomb. Six bronze age cists tombs were later additions to the southern end of this egg shaped cairn. The easiest way to access the site is through a small dairy, permission must be granted before visiting.

Court Tomb Just south of the portal tomb cairn is a smaller cairn that has been classed as a court tomb although no court is present. The cairn incorporates four chambers similar to the subsidiary in other court tombs. The picture below shows one of the chambers with another roofed chamber behind it. The cairn is more circular in shape than the other one and also more interesting. Archeaologists discovered a burial belonging to the early Christian era in this cairn.

Situated: The cairns at Aghnaskeagh are situated on private property, please ask for permission before visiting. Discovery Map 36: J 07557 13691. Last visit Sept 2007. Longitude: 6° 21' 23.44" W Latitude: 54° 3' 40.12" N Google Map Photos: Jim Dempsey.