This is a view from near the top of Slieve Gullion, the mountain in Armagh which has the highest known passage-tomb in Ireland. This place shares a Winter Solstice alignment with Loughcrew in Co. Meath, and both places have an association with the Cailleach Bheara. Looking down between the two hills, we see the town of Dundalk in the background, which in mythology was said to be the home of the warrior hero Cuchulainn. Neatly framed between these two hills is the site at Carn Beg Golf Club where there was once a huge stone circle monument, Ireland's Stonehenge, sadly completely destroyed some time between 1750 and the 1850. It was recorded by Thomas Wright in his Louthiana, published in 1748. If it were there today, it would easily rival Newgrange as Ireland's foremost monument, and would be bigger than England's Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain. For more, click here. Also, read chapter 5 of Island of the Setting Sun, which is entitled, "Cosmic Circles - The Giant Rings".
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