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Anciently sacred because horizon shape & cyclical celestial patterns are in useful harmony at this place.

Orange lines mark the annual solar round. Lunistice positions over the 18.6 year lunar nodal cycle are blue. More about the Solar CalendarMore about the Lunar Calendar

mega-what / ancient sacred places / Ireland, Co. Kilkenny

Knockroe: Passage Tomb KK034-019001

NGR 240900/131280 (IS 40874 ITM 31262 / 52.43175, -7.39981) [Googlemap]

Trajectories 3000BCE. Tap/Click pics for big ones.
W chamber of Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. SW passage of Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. Knockroe Passage Tomb is about 10km north of Carrick on Suir, in a low lying position, on a south facing slope. Excavated and partially restored it is a National Monument (no.655) owned by the state.

There are two passages. The larger, decorated one, reputedly oriented to winter solstice sunset. Apparently this event is a popular gathering and sunset is at that time of year is about 3:40pm.

Panoramic view with luni-solar trajectories c.3000BCE from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. South is on the right side of a dip, to the left of the highest point and indicated by a break in the slope [Pic].

To both sides the south lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. zone spans a rise, dip, rise sequence with winter solstice sunset in the dip - both east & west.

North is obscured but seemingly to the left of the local high point [Pic]. Green lines approximate hidden horizon segments.

Slievenamon is equinoctial.

NE from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. E from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. The north-east and east are obscured by vegetation.

SE from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. To the south-east a low hill has winter cross-quarters at its northern foot and lunar minor standstillLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range at its southern one. Winter solstice sunrise is in a dip.

Baunfree Passage Tomb is on the next hilltop, marking a lunar position that is about two years either side of the major standstillLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range year.

The eastern passage axis is clearly not aligned to winter solstice sunrise but seems to be centred about a half-month south of the winter cross-quarters; i.e. after Samhain and before Imbolc. Lunar minor standstillsLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range are also fairly central [Axial Pic].

SW from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. The south-western major standstillLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range position is marked by steps and the minor standstillLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range is on or just beyond a low hilltop. Winter solstice sunset is in the dip between them.

The decorated western passage is reputedly oriented to winter solstice sunset but do remember that our solstice occurs at horizon positions that would have been about eleven days from the solstice in neolithic times.

This passage was constructed in such a way that, despite its narrow entrance, sunlight can enter the chamber for the entire period from Samhain to Winter Solstice and back again to Imbolc. That's about ninety days. So while it is true to say that the setting solstitial sun would shine into the chamber, the passage is not aligned to that event. Rather, it seems that the passage could be centred on the lunar minor standstillLunistice positions vary cyclically over an 18.6 year period but are fairly static for more than a year at either end of the range and would also allow the light of mid-summer full moon sets to penetrate for the entire minor half of the lunar cycle, which is a time span of about nine years [Page of Axial Pics].

W from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. Westwards, winter cross-quarters are at the foot of a low hill and that hilltop is the cross-quarter / equinox mid­point. Then the top of Slievenamon is equinoctial and the third dip after it is half way to the summer cross-quarters.

NW from Knockroe Passage Tomb, Kilkenny, Ireland. The north-west is obscured.

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