Athcarne Castle

About

Athcarne Castle is a ruined Elizabethan castle outside the town of Duleek in County Meath, Ireland.

Etymology: The name Athcarne is thought to be derived from either Áth Cairn meaning the Fording Point at the Cairn, or burial mound, or alternatively from Ard Cairn, meaning High Cairn. There is a burial mound to the southeast of the castle, across the Hurley River. Dr. Beryl Moore, the Meath historian, wrote that the castle may actually be built on top of a cairn. These cairns were built around 4,000 years ago. In 861, the Vikings raided Newgrange and Dr. Moore wrote that the Cairn(s) at Athcarne were also raided at that time.

History: A location called Cerne, Cernae or Cerna in early historic times, encompassing the townlands of Carnes to the east of the ford at Athcarne, was noted as the principal burial site for the men of east Midhe and Brega (Cernoi nominatur, al. Cernai.i. coernia daiġ is ann atá primreilec Airthir Midi ocus Breaġ). This included both síd Cerna and Cnoc Cerna, the hill of Cerna, holding the bodies of the sons and grandsons of Áed Slaine mentioned in the Metrical Dindshenchus, located at the western end of the long ridge of Crockafotha and south of Duleek...