Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery and Its 6,000+ Years of History

The ancient Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is one of the most fascinating attractions in Sligo.

Thousands of years old, it’s steeped in history, myth, and mystery and it’s the largest Megalithic Cemetery in Ireland.

A short 10-minute spin from Strandhill and Sligo Town and just 20-minutes from Rosses Point, Carrowmore offers a unique step back in time.

Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery

Although a visit to Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is situated amid the beautiful scenery of Sligo, just 5 km from Sligo Town and right next to Knocknarea Mountain.

2. View galore

This ancient landscape takes in the mighty Knocknarea Mountain as you look west, and Lough Gill and the Ballygawley Mountains to the east. Many of the surrounding peaks are capped with ancient cairns, and the area is steeped in ancient history.

3. A whole lot of history

The site is home to around 30 surviving tombs, many of which date back to the 4th millennium BCE — the Neolithic era. At as much as 6,000 years old, they’re some of the oldest man-made structures still standing on earth. More on this below.

4. Visitor centre

Sitting amid these ancient monuments is a small farm cottage. Now publicly owned, the cottage serves as a visitor centre for Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery. It is open from 15 March – 31 August daily from 10:00 – 18:00. It costs:

• Adult: €5.00
• Group/Senior: €4.00
• Child/Student: €3.00
• Family: €13.00

About Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery

The history of Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is a fascinating one, and those that walk the lands around it follow in the footsteps of those that walked and worked here thousands of years ago.

Introduction to Carrowmore

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is home to the largest and oldest collection of dolmens, tombs, and stone circles in Ireland and the 30 or so remaining monuments have survived thousands of years.

It wasn’t too long ago that there were more still standing, but quarrying in the early nineteenth century caused considerable damage. 

Recent excavations

Fortunately, recent excavations have revealed a treasure trove of data. Ancient DNA studies have shown that the tombs and boulder circles were built and used by sea-faring folk from modern-day Brittany, just over 6,000 years ago.

Evidence shows they brought with them cattle, sheep, and even red deer. A typical visit will take around an hour and a half, but you can spend far longer soaking up the ancient history. Be prepared for a bit of a hike, and wear decent boots, as the going can be pretty steep at times.

What to expect when you visit Carrowmore

You’ll find a range of fascinating monuments at Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery. Many are boulder circles measuring around 10 to 12 metres in diameter, with central dolmens and occasionally passages. These are thought to be early versions of the more common passage tombs that are found across Ireland.

The larger monuments

However, there are a few much larger monuments, such as Listoghil (Tomb 51). Measuring 34 metres in diameter, it features a large box-like central chamber covered in a cairn. It sits more or less in the centre of the site, with many of the smaller tombs facing it, making it something of a focal point.

The rock used in the construction of these amazing monuments is gneiss, a very hard glacial rock that comes from the nearby Ox Mountains. On average, each tomb features 30 to 35 of these hefty boulders, standing upright in a circle, almost like a set of teeth.

The Kissing Stone

The Kissing Stone is the most well-preserved of all the monuments in Carrowmore, and as such, one of the most photogenic! It features a capstone that, after thousands of years, is still balancing atop 3 upright chamber stones. Compared to other monuments, it’s rather spacious within the chamber too.

Measuring 13 metres, a complete circle of 32 boulders surrounds the central chamber, with an inner stone circle measuring 8.5 metres in diameter. The Kissing Stone is situated on a slope, and if you’re looking the right way, you’ll see the mighty Knocknarea in the background, topped by Queen Maeve’s Cairn.

Things to do nearby

One of the beauties of Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is that it’s a short spin away from some of the best things to do in Sligo.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Carrowmore.

1. Strandhill for food and a ramble on the beach

Strandhill is a lovely little seaside town, just a short drive from Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery. You can head for a ramble along Strandhill Beach, nip into one of the many restaurants in Strandhill or, if you fancy spending a night, there’s plenty of accommodation in Strandhill, too.

2. Walks, walks and more walks

There’s some brilliant walks in Sligo. You’ll find stunning natural beauty and ancient monuments at almost every turn, as you ramble from coast to mountain. Union Wood, Lough Gill, the Benbulben Forest Walk and the Knocknarea Walk are all well worth a bash.

3. Coney Island

The magical Coney Island is easy to reach if you’re visiting Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery. A short boat ride takes you to a land steeped in folklore and myth. For those more grounded in reality, there are also several forts to take in, and a great pub! With a lovely beach and good walking routes, it’s a great place to spend half a day or so.

4. Load of other things to see and do

From this pretty central location, you can take in a wealth of other attractions in Sligo. Glencar Waterfall (in Leitrim) is a must-see, while Lissadell House offers an intriguing journey into a unique country house. There are also plenty of great towns and villages, such as Rosses Point and Sligo Town. You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches, and you’ll find great places for surfing, swimming, walking, or simply soaking up the sun and relaxing.