The meaning and use of caves and cairns

SEANDÁLAÍOCHT DEIREADH SEACHTAINE AR AN GYREUM PLUAIS

A BILINGUAL EXPLORATION OF THE MEANING & USES OF CAVES & CAIRNS 25 OR MORE

GENERATIONS BACK 25 – 27 March,

25 March – gather at Gyreum with supper before bed

Saturday 26 March  (830-930 breakfast)

10oo Introduction by Dr. Marion Dowd topic/ slide show/ powerpoint / how our ancestors made use of Caves followed by  Q&A.                1115 Coffee Break

1130-13oo Mythological associations with Caves with Seosamh MacMurrai. King Cormac Mac Art brought up by wolves at Kesh etc etc. Diarmuid and Grainne’s cave on the side of Ben Bulben. The Cave of the Cats at Rathcroghan. 13oo-14oo Lunch.  Seamus McMurrai takes us to Kesh Caves and hike from there east towards Carrowkeel, to cave/ sink well south of Cairn B and to Cairn B for sunset. 1930 Stone Age Banquet with Ruari Druid Chef Morahan at Gyreum. 21oo Optional Movie QUEST FOR FIRE on big screen and surround sound.

Sunday 27 March  (Big big Breakfast 09oo-10oo)

10oo-1130 Science of Caves.  Dr. Robert Hensey. A more detailed analysis of caves and their uses in terms of bones, artifacts, layers, how deeply explored by our ancestors and by modern cavers. From Cave to Cairn building, cairn positioning above the treeline.

Travel to the Gleniff Valley (50minutes) Climb up to  Diarmaid & Grainne’s cave at the north side of Ben Bulben.  Needs sturdy boots and some hardiness.  It’s a steep climb.   Lunch inside the huge cave,the highest in Ireland.

1730 or so Disperse for Home.

Gyreum, Corlisheen, Riverstown, Co Sligo +353 71 9165994 www.gyreum.com