This chambered cairn is not actually on Muck Rock but overlooks it and is actually on the northernmost point of the Ben Of Howth (County Dublin).
The small open chamber is defined by eight stones and is some 30cm deep and 70cm square.
I was in awe as I stood by this flattened and robbed-out cairn at the alignment of Ireland's Eye and the Island of Lambay, one stacked on top of the other in the sea. This must have been the prime reason in choosing this spot.
Sadly a golf course no cuts a swathe across the top of The Ben and lies like a tame pussy cat amongst the wild and exciting lions of this once wilderness.
Once again the views from this site blew me away. The islands to the north, the Wicklows to the south and Dublin city to the west.
The whole of this section of the hill is riddled with quartz seams. If Howth was ever considered to be a representation of a female goddess, which I suspect it was, then perhaps these seams of quartz were seen as embodying her life-giving veins.
Drive into Howth via the R105 from Dublin. You will reach a cross roads where the R106 goes north. Turn right here and head south around the island. After passing a cemetery on the right you will come to a left turn. Take this and follow the road around until shortly after a sharp right bend. You should see a track leading over the hill to the left. Park here and follow this track. Keep heading north west around the top, following the golf course and heading towards Ireland's Eye. The cairn is on the far north west corner.
This is an explanation of (and a bit of a disclaimer for) the coordinates I provide. Where a GPS figure is given this is the master for all other coordinates. According to my Garmin these are quite accurate. Where there is no GPS figure the 6 figure grid reference is master for the others. This may not be very accurate as it could have come from the OS maps and could have been read by eye. Consequently, all other cordinates are going to have inaccuracies. The calculation of Longitude and Latitude uses an algorithm that is not 100% accurate. The long/lat figures are used as a basis for calculating the UTM & ITM coordinates. Consequently, UTM & ITM coordinates are slightly out. UTM is a global coordinate system - Universal Transverse Mercator - that is at the core of the GPS system. ITM is the new coordinate system - Irish Transverse Mercator - that is more accurate and more GPS friendly than the Irish Grid Reference system. This will be used on the next generation of Irish OS maps. |