Equinox - March 2007 at LoughcrewThe equinox alignment event at Cairn T, the passage tomb that crowns the hilltop of Carnbane East at Loughcrew. Photographs taken on 20th March 2007.http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07105/137470413_nLJKm-Ti.jpghttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/gallery/2606130_bQQLZ/2009-01-08T05:18:07ZCopyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved.SmugMug5,000 years after the stone age farmers of Co. Meath built their massive stone passage tombs on the hills of Loughcrew near Oldcastle, the sun still returns twice a year on the equinoxes to ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />5,000 years after the stone age farmers of Co. Meath built their massive stone passage tombs on the hills of Loughcrew near Oldcastle, the sun still returns twice a year on the equinoxes to ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137470413_nLJKm" title="5,000 years after the stone age farmers of Co. Meath built their massive stone passage tombs on the hills of Loughcrew near Oldcastle, the sun still returns twice a year on the equinoxes to ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07105/137470413_nLJKm-Th.jpg" width="150" height="99" alt="5,000 years after the stone age farmers of Co. Meath built their massive stone passage tombs on the hills of Loughcrew near Oldcastle, the sun still returns twice a year on the equinoxes to ..." title="5,000 years after the stone age farmers of Co. Meath built their massive stone passage tombs on the hills of Loughcrew near Oldcastle, the sun still returns twice a year on the equinoxes to ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-13T18:20:15ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07105/137470413_nLJKm-Th.jpg2007-03-20 07:52:47The passage of Cairn T opens almost east, positioned so that it faces the sun and catches its rays shortly after it clears the horizon.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The passage of Cairn T opens almost east, positioned so that it faces the sun and catches its rays shortly after it clears the horizon.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137492766_xWU2k" title="The passage of Cairn T opens almost east, positioned so that it faces the sun and catches its rays shortly after it clears the horizon."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07126/137492766_xWU2k-Th.jpg" width="150" height="85" alt="The passage of Cairn T opens almost east, positioned so that it faces the sun and catches its rays shortly after it clears the horizon." title="The passage of Cairn T opens almost east, positioned so that it faces the sun and catches its rays shortly after it clears the horizon." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T04:16:08ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07126/137492766_xWU2k-Th.jpg2007-03-20 08:00:43The hilltop is littered with the ruined remains of many satellite tombs, none quite as large or as ornamently carved as Cairn T. Barely visible earlier in the morning twilight, the flood of ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The hilltop is littered with the ruined remains of many satellite tombs, none quite as large or as ornamently carved as Cairn T. Barely visible earlier in the morning twilight, the flood of ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137486043_2t4rN" title="The hilltop is littered with the ruined remains of many satellite tombs, none quite as large or as ornamently carved as Cairn T. Barely visible earlier in the morning twilight, the flood of ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07115/137486043_2t4rN-Th.jpg" width="150" height="97" alt="The hilltop is littered with the ruined remains of many satellite tombs, none quite as large or as ornamently carved as Cairn T. Barely visible earlier in the morning twilight, the flood of ..." title="The hilltop is littered with the ruined remains of many satellite tombs, none quite as large or as ornamently carved as Cairn T. Barely visible earlier in the morning twilight, the flood of ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T04:07:04ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07115/137486043_2t4rN-Th.jpg2007-03-20 07:56:54From inside the gloom of the chamber, there is a clear view of the horizon and on a clear day the Hill of Slane, a few miles from Drogheda, can be seen below the rising sun around the equino ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />From inside the gloom of the chamber, there is a clear view of the horizon and on a clear day the Hill of Slane, a few miles from Drogheda, can be seen below the rising sun around the equino ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137470283_vADpA" title="From inside the gloom of the chamber, there is a clear view of the horizon and on a clear day the Hill of Slane, a few miles from Drogheda, can be seen below the rising sun around the equino ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07076/137470283_vADpA-Th.jpg" width="104" height="150" alt="From inside the gloom of the chamber, there is a clear view of the horizon and on a clear day the Hill of Slane, a few miles from Drogheda, can be seen below the rising sun around the equino ..." title="From inside the gloom of the chamber, there is a clear view of the horizon and on a clear day the Hill of Slane, a few miles from Drogheda, can be seen below the rising sun around the equino ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T04:10:02ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07076/137470283_vADpA-Th.jpg2007-03-20 07:43:03The sun rises surprisingly quickly and the light inside the passage and chamber can be blinding when viewed from the relative darkness of the interior, so eyes are instead drawn to the rear ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The sun rises surprisingly quickly and the light inside the passage and chamber can be blinding when viewed from the relative darkness of the interior, so eyes are instead drawn to the rear ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137470387_BVrCE" title="The sun rises surprisingly quickly and the light inside the passage and chamber can be blinding when viewed from the relative darkness of the interior, so eyes are instead drawn to the rear ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07097/137470387_BVrCE-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="The sun rises surprisingly quickly and the light inside the passage and chamber can be blinding when viewed from the relative darkness of the interior, so eyes are instead drawn to the rear ..." title="The sun rises surprisingly quickly and the light inside the passage and chamber can be blinding when viewed from the relative darkness of the interior, so eyes are instead drawn to the rear ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T21:30:48ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07097/137470387_BVrCE-Th.jpg2007-03-20 07:49:13Shaped by the stones of the passage sides, the sill stones in the passage and chamber and orthostats at the opening of the rear recess, the vernal equinox sunbeam is shaped slightly differen ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />Shaped by the stones of the passage sides, the sill stones in the passage and chamber and orthostats at the opening of the rear recess, the vernal equinox sunbeam is shaped slightly differen ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137470255_S38Gh" title="Shaped by the stones of the passage sides, the sill stones in the passage and chamber and orthostats at the opening of the rear recess, the vernal equinox sunbeam is shaped slightly differen ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07070/137470255_S38Gh-Th.jpg" width="150" height="102" alt="Shaped by the stones of the passage sides, the sill stones in the passage and chamber and orthostats at the opening of the rear recess, the vernal equinox sunbeam is shaped slightly differen ..." title="Shaped by the stones of the passage sides, the sill stones in the passage and chamber and orthostats at the opening of the rear recess, the vernal equinox sunbeam is shaped slightly differen ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T04:28:05ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07070/137470255_S38Gh-Th.jpg2007-03-20 07:42:13Unlike the winter solstice at Newgrange, the equinox event at Loughcrew is very informal and anyone who makes the cold, hard trek up the hillside before dawn will be rewarded with a few mome ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />Unlike the winter solstice at Newgrange, the equinox event at Loughcrew is very informal and anyone who makes the cold, hard trek up the hillside before dawn will be rewarded with a few mome ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137486464_pY2yK" title="Unlike the winter solstice at Newgrange, the equinox event at Loughcrew is very informal and anyone who makes the cold, hard trek up the hillside before dawn will be rewarded with a few mome ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07167/137486464_pY2yK-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Unlike the winter solstice at Newgrange, the equinox event at Loughcrew is very informal and anyone who makes the cold, hard trek up the hillside before dawn will be rewarded with a few mome ..." title="Unlike the winter solstice at Newgrange, the equinox event at Loughcrew is very informal and anyone who makes the cold, hard trek up the hillside before dawn will be rewarded with a few mome ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T04:26:40ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07167/137486464_pY2yK-Th.jpg2007-03-20 08:15:41Carvings along the passage orthostats are easily viewed at sunrise as the directional light brings the patterns and motifs to life.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />Carvings along the passage orthostats are easily viewed at sunrise as the directional light brings the patterns and motifs to life.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137470225_KoDmT" title="Carvings along the passage orthostats are easily viewed at sunrise as the directional light brings the patterns and motifs to life."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07056/137470225_KoDmT-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Carvings along the passage orthostats are easily viewed at sunrise as the directional light brings the patterns and motifs to life." title="Carvings along the passage orthostats are easily viewed at sunrise as the directional light brings the patterns and motifs to life." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T21:29:00ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07056/137470225_KoDmT-Th.jpg2007-03-20 07:37:46Half an hour after sunrise, the full intensity of the sun is now focused on the backstone by the passage and orthostats, illuminating almost its entire surface as seen below.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />Half an hour after sunrise, the full intensity of the sun is now focused on the backstone by the passage and orthostats, illuminating almost its entire surface as seen below.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137489405_rdnT5" title="Half an hour after sunrise, the full intensity of the sun is now focused on the backstone by the passage and orthostats, illuminating almost its entire surface as seen below."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07199/137489405_rdnT5-Th.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="Half an hour after sunrise, the full intensity of the sun is now focused on the backstone by the passage and orthostats, illuminating almost its entire surface as seen below." title="Half an hour after sunrise, the full intensity of the sun is now focused on the backstone by the passage and orthostats, illuminating almost its entire surface as seen below." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T21:22:42ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07199/137489405_rdnT5-Th.jpg2007-03-20 08:21:17The full illumination of the backstone is a wonderful sight, for these rare moments the endless questions, theories and frustrations posed by these enigmatic markings can be put aside. Sitti ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The full illumination of the backstone is a wonderful sight, for these rare moments the endless questions, theories and frustrations posed by these enigmatic markings can be put aside. Sitti ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#431270667_moJhW" title="The full illumination of the backstone is a wonderful sight, for these rare moments the endless questions, theories and frustrations posed by these enigmatic markings can be put aside. Sitti ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07092/431270667_moJhW-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="The full illumination of the backstone is a wonderful sight, for these rare moments the endless questions, theories and frustrations posed by these enigmatic markings can be put aside. Sitti ..." title="The full illumination of the backstone is a wonderful sight, for these rare moments the endless questions, theories and frustrations posed by these enigmatic markings can be put aside. Sitti ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-12-06T00:22:33ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07092/431270667_moJhW-Th.jpgAs the sun rises higher, the projected beam moves lower and lower across the back stone, though it never loses its intensity. The warm, orange glow of sunrise begins to fade and the paler li ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />As the sun rises higher, the projected beam moves lower and lower across the back stone, though it never loses its intensity. The warm, orange glow of sunrise begins to fade and the paler li ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137470308_JJt2Y" title="As the sun rises higher, the projected beam moves lower and lower across the back stone, though it never loses its intensity. The warm, orange glow of sunrise begins to fade and the paler li ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07083/137470308_JJt2Y-Th.jpg" width="150" height="96" alt="As the sun rises higher, the projected beam moves lower and lower across the back stone, though it never loses its intensity. The warm, orange glow of sunrise begins to fade and the paler li ..." title="As the sun rises higher, the projected beam moves lower and lower across the back stone, though it never loses its intensity. The warm, orange glow of sunrise begins to fade and the paler li ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-13T18:20:35ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07083/137470308_JJt2Y-Th.jpg2007-03-20 07:44:03The light now starts to cross onto the orthostats of the main chamber and will shortly begin its retreat down the right hand side of the passage.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The light now starts to cross onto the orthostats of the main chamber and will shortly begin its retreat down the right hand side of the passage.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137487714_h4CAt" title="The light now starts to cross onto the orthostats of the main chamber and will shortly begin its retreat down the right hand side of the passage."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07243/137487714_h4CAt-Th.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="The light now starts to cross onto the orthostats of the main chamber and will shortly begin its retreat down the right hand side of the passage." title="The light now starts to cross onto the orthostats of the main chamber and will shortly begin its retreat down the right hand side of the passage." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T04:21:20ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07243/137487714_h4CAt-Th.jpg2007-03-20 08:34:26Towards the end of the event, the floor of the passage is illuminted but does not cross the floor of the main chamber as at Newgrange, a curved-top sillstone blocks this late light from hitt ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />Towards the end of the event, the floor of the passage is illuminted but does not cross the floor of the main chamber as at Newgrange, a curved-top sillstone blocks this late light from hitt ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137470485_DCF4a" title="Towards the end of the event, the floor of the passage is illuminted but does not cross the floor of the main chamber as at Newgrange, a curved-top sillstone blocks this late light from hitt ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07239/137470485_DCF4a-Th.jpg" width="101" height="150" alt="Towards the end of the event, the floor of the passage is illuminted but does not cross the floor of the main chamber as at Newgrange, a curved-top sillstone blocks this late light from hitt ..." title="Towards the end of the event, the floor of the passage is illuminted but does not cross the floor of the main chamber as at Newgrange, a curved-top sillstone blocks this late light from hitt ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T04:33:56ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07239/137470485_DCF4a-Th.jpg2007-03-20 08:32:50The exterior of Cairn T, viewed from the ruinous chamber of Cairn V.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The exterior of Cairn T, viewed from the ruinous chamber of Cairn V.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137470450_vsCtw" title="The exterior of Cairn T, viewed from the ruinous chamber of Cairn V."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07125/137470450_vsCtw-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="The exterior of Cairn T, viewed from the ruinous chamber of Cairn V." title="The exterior of Cairn T, viewed from the ruinous chamber of Cairn V." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T04:07:40ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07125/137470450_vsCtw-Th.jpg2007-03-20 07:59:19The spectacle is over for today, the climb to the hilltop in the freezing darkness has been worth it and the small crowd leaves in good humour.
For some, this was their first experience ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The spectacle is over for today, the climb to the hilltop in the freezing darkness has been worth it and the small crowd leaves in good humour.
For some, this was their first experience ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/2606130_bQQLZ#137494470_F2TeP" title="The spectacle is over for today, the climb to the hilltop in the freezing darkness has been worth it and the small crowd leaves in good humour.
For some, this was their first experience ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07120/137494470_F2TeP-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="The spectacle is over for today, the climb to the hilltop in the freezing darkness has been worth it and the small crowd leaves in good humour.
For some, this was their first experience ..." title="The spectacle is over for today, the climb to the hilltop in the freezing darkness has been worth it and the small crowd leaves in good humour.
For some, this was their first experience ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-13T04:06:15ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Equinox-March-2007-at/EquinoxMarch07120/137494470_F2TeP-Th.jpg2007-03-20 07:58:14