Heapstown Cairn, Neolithic cairn near Lough Arrow, Ireland
Heapstown Cairn is a circular stone mound located near Lough Arrow with a diameter of around 57 meters (187 feet) and stands about 10 meters (33 feet) high. The structure was built using limestone and red sandstone sourced from the local area.
This monument was built around 3000 BC and follows the pattern of similar structures found at the nearby Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery. It represents one of the oldest constructions in this region.
Local stories link this site to Ailill mac Echach Mugmedóin, brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, identifying it as his burial place. These tales give the monument a special place in the region's memory.
The cairn is reached by following the N4 toward Sligo, turning off near Castlebaldwin, and driving to Heapstown crossroads. A stile at the crossroads provides access to the field where the monument stands.
This is Ireland's fourth largest cairn and contains a passage grave with megalithic art carvings on a south-facing kerbstone. These artworks were discovered in 1998 during archaeological investigations and reveal the artistic skill of Neolithic people.
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