Carns Passage Tomb

Carns cairn tomb is located to the south-east of Sligo town in the middle of Carns Forest. The Cairn loop walk within the forest provides access to this megalithic tomb. The cairn, on a natural summit ridge, is flat-topped with a diameter of 53m north-south and 58m east-west, and circa 7.5m tall. It is known locally as the east cairn, as another cairn is found 400m west. The topography of the area indicates the cairn was strategically situated. Except for the southern side, the ridge on which the cairn sits falls away from the cairn itself. The eastern and southern sides of the cairn are best preserved.

Outside, the ground level is two meters higher to the south and east, than that of the north and west. Carns Hill, on which both east and west cairns are sited, commands excellent views of the countryside. It is believed that both the east and west cairn form profiles on the horizon indicating an astrological purpose. This is reinforced by the rising of the sun during the equinox, as it rises between the east and west cairn.

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This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014