Newgrange, County Meath, Ireland

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Newgrange is located in  the Boyne Valley in County Meath. It's one of the most famous ancient monuments in Ireland, and is the largest and one of the most important in Europe.


The very beautiful Boyne River

Newgrange is a large passage tomb located in the Boyne Valley in County Meath. It dates from the Neolithic period, pre-dates the Pyramids in Egypt. It's just one of the monuments in the Brú na Bóinne complex. Brú na Bóinne (or the Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
Newgrange was restored to its current state in the 1970s. It should be noted that this is an interpretation of how it may have appeared in the Neolithic period, and not necessarily how it actually looked. 


The purpose of Newgrange is still a mystery, but it's believed to have had some religious significance. The opening of the tomb is aligned with the rising sun of the winter solstice. The light of the rising sun enters the tomb via the lightbox (below) and illuminates the inside of the tomb. This happens at approximately 09:00 on the Winter Solstice, and access to the tomb at this site is limited to a few lucky lottery winners. I've never been one of these fortunate individuals. Maybe this year...

The decorated kerbstone 

Close up of the decorated kerbstone at the entrance

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