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Loughcrew Autumnal Equinox 2002

Around the spring and autumn equinoxes, the rising sun enters the passage of Cairn T on Carnbane East at Loughcrew and lights the decorated backstone in the chamber. The photographs below record the September 2002 illumination.

Pale orange equinox sunrise over misty rolling hills at Slieve na Caillaigh, Loughcrew. Autumn Equinox sunrise at Slieve na Caillaigh, where Loughcrew Cairn T is situated.
Bright September sunrise over a rocky hilltop silhouette at Slieve na Caillaigh, Loughcrew. September 2002 sunrise at Slieve na Caillaigh, where Loughcrew Cairn T is situated.
Equinox sunbeam lighting rayed circles, zigzags and grid carvings on the Cairn T backstone at Loughcrew. The rising sun penetrating the passage of Cairn T and illuminating the backstone.
Shaped rectangular beam of equinox sunlight on the Cairn T backstone, highlighting sun symbols and ladder motifs. Equinox sunlight in Cairn T, Loughcrew.

This image taken inside Cairn T shows the shaped beam of equinox sunlight illuminating the backstone. The symbol on the top left of the illuminated area clearly represents the sun and the symbols with the horizontal markings may be measuring scales.

Closer view of equinox light on the Cairn T backstone, with flower-like sun motifs, zigzags and a comb pattern. Closer view of the illuminated backstone in Cairn T.

Tim O'Brien in his book Light Years Ago states "It would appear that the construction of Cairn T was specifically designed to cleverly fashion a beam of light from the rising and early risen sun around the time of the equinoxes to define the four year equinox or leap year cycle."

Book cover: Light Years Ago by Tim O'Brien, with a glowing amber panel and circular flower motif. Light Years Ago: A Study of the Cairns of Newgrange and Cairn T Loughcrew, Co. Meath, Ireland by Tim O'Brien shows that the symbols of the sun engraved on the backstone of Cairn T at Loughcrew are precisely positioned to measure solar movement. A beam of light from the rising sun around the time of the March and September equinoxes is mapped on the backstone. Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

Loughcrew Video - Spring Equinox 2005

The progress of the sunbeam on the backstone inside Cairn T at Loughcrew was video recorded at sunrise on the morning of 23 March 2005. The 50 minute video has been compressed to 1 minute 46 seconds and included in the following YouTube video. See also the Loughcrew Equinox Video page.

Spring Equinox sunrise at Loughcrew Cairn T, March 2005.

Gossan Stones Equinox Sunrise Alignment

Equinox sunrise framed between two dark standing stones at the Gossan Stones in the Wicklow Mountains, photo by Cian McCormack. The equinox sunrise is framed by the Gossan Stones in the Wicklow Mountains.
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 and Boyne Valley Tours Equinox.

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