Climb Knocknarea Mountain and see Queen Maeve’s tomb

Iron Age remains and spectacular views on Sligo summit

Examine a 5,000 year-old cairn reputed to hold the tomb of the legendary Queen of Connaught. See remarkable reminders of early Irish civilisation and enjoy spectacular views of West Coast of Ireland, from Donegal to Mayo.

Travel back in time 5,000 years and experience a wonderful view of the scenic County Sligo landscape in the process!

That's the alluring double prize that awaits you if you climb Knocknarea Mountain and reach the reputed burial spot of the mythical Queen Maeve of Connaught.

You will not be the only person to be captivated by these sights - the Queen and mountain are famed in Irish mythology and are mentioned in several of Nobel prizewinner, WB Yeats' poems.

When you reach the summit of Knocknarea (325m), you will be entranced by the presence of a huge flat-topped cairn, 55m in diameter and 10m high. This unexcavated cairn is thought to cover a passage tomb dating from c3000BC.

Find out how this tomb enclosure, which can be seen for miles around, is reputed to hold the remains of the legendary Iron Age Queen of Connaught, Maeve. If visiting Sligo in early August, why not take the opportunity to visit the Queen Maeve International Summer School Festival of Irish Music Song and Set Dancing, which is held in Sligo Town each year. The next Summer School Festival will take place between the 4th and 9th Aug 2008. For further information please visit www.cygo.ie/tradmusic

Explore the immediate surrounds of the cairn and be fascinated by the items found there, all of which hark back to the Neolithic Age in the dim and distant past.

A number of kerbstones are visible. A 3m bank encircles the cairn, which is surrounded by smaller structures, three of which are other cairns. Two large stones lie within 5m to the north and south, and have been interpreted as north and south markers.

About 400m to the north-east, you will find the foundations of five circular and oval hut sites, whose roofs of thatch or turf had been supported on wooden poles.

Excavations of some of these huts uncovered hundreds of flint scrapers and arrowheads, a polished stone axe and some pottery. The hut sites are believed to have been seasonal hunting camps but may also have been used in the building of Maeve's Cairn. Imagine what it was like at the time these findings were in use - about 3300 - 2700BC!

On your 4km walk up Knocknarea, enjoy the breathtaking views all around you. See Slieve League and the Donegal coastline to the north, the majestic Ox Mountains of Co. Sligo and (on a fine day) Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo to the south-west, and picturesque Lough Gill to the east.

Don't forget also to notice that Carrowmore Tombs are down below nearby, where megalithic remains predate that of Newgrange and Stonehenge.

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