Staff from the Office of Public Works were at Cairn T on Carnbane East,
Loughcrew for the Equinox Illumination on the mornings
of March 20th, March 21st and March 22nd 2008.
Unfortunately for the people who gathered on March 20th the sunrise was totally obscured. On the 21st the rising sun occasionally
broke through the clouds.
The best morning was the 22nd which was a near perfect sunrise, when the sun rose above a little low cloud, Cairn T
was brilliantly illuminated, rewarding the hardy souls that braved the arctic winds and sub zero temperatures.
The chamber in Cairn T is quite small so only 5 or 6 people can be inside at a time.
The rest of the crowd waited patiently outside, making sure not to spoil the illumination
inside by obstructing the sun at the entrance of the Cairn.
Sun in the passage of Cairn T.
The Equinox Sunrise illuminating the chamber of Loughcrew Cairn T.
After the sun has retreated from the chamber, this photo from
MythicalIreland.com illustrates the beautiful
afterglow effect in which significant reflected sunlight still reaches the rear stone.
By 7:20am the sun had retreated from the passage and chamber and I am about to join
my fellow enthusiasts for an organic breakfast at the nearby
Loughcrew Gardens.
The progress of the sunbeam on the backstone inside Cairn T at Loughcrew was video recorded at sunrise
on the morning of March 23rd 2005. The 50 minute video has been compressed to 1 minute 46 seconds
and included in the following YouTube Video.
Gossan Stones Equinox Sunrise Alignment
The Equinox Sunrise is framed by the Gossan Stones in the Wicklow Mountains.
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