Solstice and the Sword of Lugh
Another stunning discovery from the IrieLand culture house is re-writing anew the story of Mayo's megaliths
There’s a tradition of visiting the seaside location of Killadangan, between Westport and Murrisk, on the winter solstice. People gather at the row of four stones where they watch the sun go down over a notch on the side of Croagh Patrick. It happens at 2.30 in the afternoon, so it feels odd, and it’s not a true sunset. But there’s a reason that people gather. This was, in times past, a place to gather at the winter solstice.
The row of four stones at Killadangan
The real show doesn’t take place in the afternoon, but at midnight. Visit the four stones at midnight, and shortly afterwards, on a clear night, there’s a truly magnificent sight. There in the southern sky, directly aligned with the row of four stones, is the row of stars known in ancient times as the sword of Lugh. It’s now better known here as Orion’s sword.
In Three Stones: The Cross and the Circle, I showed how the Southern Cross was visible on the winter solstice several thousand years ago. Now Orion is the dominant constellation in the southern sky on the longest night.
To be here and see this is to have no doubt that our ancestors created this space to align ourselves with the heavens. In the past year, I’ve discovered and written about the three stones of Knappagh, elaborately carved to map the constellations of the southern skies now hidden to us. There’s a remarkable carved constellation stone that I’ve yet to share but you’ll hear about it soon. And now we have the stone row at Killadangan, resonating on the solstice with the sword of light on Orion’s belt.
The sword of Lugh seen over Killadangan on the winter solstice
It must be now that the old names of these constellations will return to us soon. It’s not all Greek to us anymore.
ENDNOTE:
The Three Stones exhibition continues from 21 December at the Linenhall in Castlebar. Free admission. Show runs until the start of February.