Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeMegalithic tomb - passage tomb
- StatusNational Monument
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Visiting
- National Monument in State care, listed by the National Monuments Service as a monument to visit.NMS Monuments to Visit · official page
- Promoted as a visitor attraction by Fáilte Ireland (opening times not confirmed here).Fáilte Ireland · official page
- May be on private land and not open to the publicNational Monuments Service advice
- Wear suitable footwear and clothingNational Monuments Service advice
- Uneven ground: not suitable for everyone, especially wheelchair usersNational Monuments Service advice
Opening times and fees change: check with the operator before you go.
About Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
Its history
- A restored cottage houses an exhibition relating to the site.
What you'll see
- This is the largest cemetery of megalithic tombs in Ireland and is also among the country's oldest, with monuments ranging from five and a half thousand to six and a half thousand years old.
- Archaeologists have recorded over 60 tombs of which 30 are visible.
- Access to the tombs may be difficult for people with disabilities.
- Visitors are advised to wear shoes suitable for walking on uneven terrain.
Text: National Monuments Service, Monuments to Visit (CC BY 4.0). Sentences grouped by topic by ErinSites; the wording is unchanged.
History and description
Full archaeological record 28 words
Petrie tomb No. 1. See linked document with details from Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume V. County Sligo. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1989)
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 9 January 2012. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
More megalithic tombs nearby
National MonumentCarrowmore
Megalithic tomb - passage tomb · Carrowmore (Carbury By.) · Sligo · 0.1 km away
Listoghil
Megalithic tomb - passage tomb · Carrowmore (Carbury By.) · Sligo · 0.3 km away
National MonumentCarrowmore Megalithic Cemetery W-M 9a
Megalithic tomb - passage tomb · Carrowmore (Carbury By.) · Sligo · 0.7 km away
National MonumentCummeen Court Cairn
Megalithic tomb - court tomb · Cummeen · Sligo · 2.9 km away
National MonumentQueen Maeves Tomb Knocknarea
Megalithic tomb - passage tomb · Knocknarea South · Sligo · 3.6 km away
National MonumentKnocknarea passage tombs
Megalithic tomb - passage tomb · Knocknarea South · Sligo · 3.7 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- CarrowmoreMegalithic tomb - passage tomb · Carrowmore (Carbury By.) · 0.6 km · official record
See linked document This is a National Monument in State care (No. 153).
Visitors' notes
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Around Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
Other heritage nearby
- CarrowmoreRingfort · 0.4 km
- St Bridget's WellHoly well · 3.1 km
- Sligo Abbey, SligoAbbey or friary · 3.9 km
- Saint Fechin's ChurchAncient church · 4.1 km
- Tobernalt WellHoly well · 4.9 km
- Kildalough ChurchAncient church · 5.1 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 144 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 81 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 cavesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Queen Maeve Trail KnocknareaWalking Trail · 7.8 km · nearest point 2.2 km
- Killaspugbrone LoopWalking Trail · 7.2 km · nearest point 4.6 km
- The North West Trail CyclingRoad Cycling Trail · 213.1 km · nearest point 4.8 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- RathcarrickForests · 2.2 km
- CarnsForests · 4.3 km
- Rosses Point BeachBeaches · 7.3 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Dunmoran BeachBeaches · 14 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Ballygilgan, Lissadell Nature ReserveNature reserves · 10 km
- SligoWalled towns · 3.9 km
- Schoolhouse at AnnaghmoreHistoric stays · 11 km
- Temple HouseHistoric stays · 16 km
Other attractions nearby
- High Hopes Hiking - Benbulben and the Wild Atlantic WayWalking · 2.3 km
- St John's Cathedral SligoHistoric Houses and Castle · 3.5 km
- Queen Maeve's CairnWalking · 3.6 km
- Free Guided Walking Tour of Sligo CityWalking · 3.7 km
What's on nearby
- Broadway and Beyond2026-11-11 · 3.4 km
- Broadway and Beyond2026-11-12 · 3.4 km
- Broadway and Beyond2026-11-13 · 3.4 km
Excavations nearby
- E0859 Ext Caltragh Site 3, County SligoRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 2.6 km
- 03E0545 Area 1B Carrowroe, County SligoRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 2.6 km