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Loughcrew Equinox - 22nd September 2008

On Carnbane East at Loughcrew, Cairn T is aligned with the rising sun at the equinoxes, when light enters the chamber and illuminates the carvings within. The photographs below record the autumn equinox on 22nd September 2008, when clear conditions allowed a golden beam to fill the chamber.

Equinox sunlight on Cairn T backstone at Loughcrew, eight-petalled rosette carving lit in a rectangular beam. Equinox sunrise beam of golden light in the chamber of Loughcrew Cairn T - 22nd September 2008.
Loughcrew Cairn T mound emerging from thick mist at dawn on 21 September 2008, treeline visible on the summit. Loughcrew Cairn T mound emerging from mist.

The Office of Public Works staff opened Cairn T, Loughcrew on three mornings leading up to and on the actual equinox morning of the 22nd September. The first morning, Saturday the 20th of September was cloudy; however the sun did break through the clouds for the last 10 minutes of the equinox illumination period (the full light show lasts about 50 minutes).

On Sunday 21st September a group of over 100 early risers waited patiently for the sun to break through the mist and cloud; unfortunately the mist and cloud persisted with only fleeting glimpses of light in the chamber. Despite the disappointment the group was good humoured and it was a chance to meet old friends and make some new friends.

Cairn T orthostat carvings with sunburst and flower motifs, zigzags and a comb-like ladder design. Cairn T orthostat carvings with sunburst.

The conditions on Monday the 22nd of September were perfect for the rising sun to illuminate the passage and chamber of Cairn T at Loughcrew. Many thanks to Clare Tuffy for the beautiful photographs.

The image to the right is a close up of the Backstone in Cairn T during the Equinox Illumination.

On the morning of March 23rd 2005, I was inside the chamber of Cairn T to witness the spring equinox sunrise illuminate the backstone. View Equinox Video

Group gathered before the gated entrance to Loughcrew Cairn T at sunrise in September 2008. The scene outside Loughcrew Cairn T in the glorious equinox morning sunshine.
Tall view of equinox sunlight illuminating sun symbols, zigzags and ladder motifs on the Cairn T backstone at Loughcrew.
Equinox sunlight on the backstone in Cairn T.

Loughcrew Equinox Archive

See also the main Loughcrew Equinox page.

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