Access to Cairn T at Loughcrew
July 2026
Meath West TD Johnny Guirke wrote to the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works on 16 July 2025 asking that technical examinations and conservation works on Cairn T at Loughcrew be prioritised, with a view to opening the passage tomb to the public again. A reply has now been received, nearly a year later.
Commenting on the delay, Deputy Guirke said: "Disappointing that it took nearly 1 year to receive a reply on Cairn T. I will keep highlighting this and will be asking how long it is expected to take to actually complete the conservation management plan."
Visitors gather at Cairn T, Loughcrew, for the equinox sunrise
Cairn T has been closed to the public since 2018. For many years before that closure, people came to Carnbane East at equinox to see the rising sun light the carved backstone inside the chamber. That alignment, and the megalithic art it reveals, is why access matters so much to visitors and to the local community.
Gathering outside the gated entrance of Cairn T at equinox
Reply from Minister Kevin Boxer Moran TD
The following reply has now been received from Kevin Boxer Moran TD, Minister of State at the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief.
Dear Johnny,
Thank you for your letter received on 16th July last year requesting that the OPW prioritise and complete technical examinations and conservation works this year on Cairn T at Loughcrew, with a view to opening it to the public. I sincerely apologise for the delay in responding.
Cairn T has been closed to the public since 2018. A condition survey at that time identified some structural concerns. This informed the OPW decision to restrict access to the cairn to protect the monument and ensure visitor safety. An acrow prop support was initially installed, which was replaced in mid-2024 with an alternative support solution. The current solution improves visibility into the Cairn and allows better views of the chamber.
Equinox sunlight entering the passage and chamber of Cairn T
Future guided access to Cairn T is to be examined as part of a Conservation Management Plan for the site. This plan will address stone conservation issues, the protection of megalithic art, the condition of the mound and entrance to the tomb, and other matters to inform the approach to future management. A structural survey of Cairn T is to be undertaken. This survey will inform future works. The construction phase of any repairs or projects will depend on the repairs proposed, taking into account the considerable archaeological constraints in place.
The OPW provides a seasonal guide service from May to September, with guides located on the hill to engage with visitors and give tours of the cairns.
Equinox sunbeam on the carved backstone inside Cairn T
The OPW is committed to conserving and protecting this significant monument. We appreciate your understanding and continued interest in the preservation of this important national monument.
Yours sincerely,
Kevin Boxer Moran TD
Minister of State at the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief
What happens next
The reply confirms that chamber access remains tied to a Conservation Management Plan and a further structural survey. No timetable is given for completing that plan, or for any later repairs. Johnny Guirke will continue highlighting the issue and will be asking how long it is expected to take to complete the Conservation Management Plan.
See also the Loughcrew Equinox archive and Boyne Valley Tours Equinox pages for photographs of the sunrise alignment at Cairn T.