The boulder circles
Large stones ringed in the grass.
Andreas F. Borchert — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andreas F. Borchert — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andreas F. Borchert — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andreas F. Borchert — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ruhrfisch — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andreas F. Borchert — CC BY-SA 4.0
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is a large group of ancient stone tombs on the Coolera Peninsula west of Sligo town. Built in the fourth millennium BC, it is one of the largest clusters of such tombs in Ireland, alongside Carrowkeel, Loughcrew and Brú na Bóinne. It is a protected national monument. Thirty tombs survive, and another 25 have been destroyed since 1800. The site sits on a small plateau 36 to 59 metres above sea level, at the heart of an ancient ritual landscape dominated by the mountain of Knocknarea to the west, topped by a huge cairn. More tombs crown the neighbouring peaks, as if the whole area were linked together. You walk on grassy paths between circles of large boulders, some with a standing dolmen of three or four blocks under a broad capstone. At the centre is Tomb 51, Listoghil, the largest, partly rebuilt. The fields are open, mountains ring the horizon, and on clear days you can see Knocknarea and Benbulbin from here. It is a quiet place and usually not crowded. The site is 3.9 km in a straight line west of Sligo town and 13.2 km from Benbulbin. It usually opens from March to early December, in 2026 from 12 March to 2 December, with last admission in winter at 16:00. The ground can be wet, so wear suitable shoes, and do not climb on the stones.
Large stones ringed in the grass.
A broad capstone on standing blocks.
The largest tomb at the centre.
Coolera Peninsula, west of Sligo town
They were built in the fourth millennium BC, in the Neolithic.
In 2026 it closes after 2 December, so check next season's dates.