Step inside an ancient world filled with secrets at these awe-inspiring megalithic monuments.
In a quiet part of County Meath, close to the River Boyne, is one of the most important prehistoric landscapes in the world. For over 5,000 years, the UNESCO-certified Brú na Bóinne has cradled secrets borne of Neolithic ingenuity, hidden within sacred structures built of earth and stone. Brú na Bóinne’s wondrous collection of megalithic art is dotted across more than 90 monuments, but the site is best known for Newgrange – an iconic passage tomb that dates to around 3200BC. Learn about Neolithic culture, landscape and monuments at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, and enjoy a guided tour of Newgrange and Knowth.
Newgrange, County Meath
Brian Morrison
Newgrange’s iconic spiral-engraved kerbstones and white Wicklow quartzite topped with grass make an impressive sight, but step into the dark heart of this tomb and you come face to face with the ancient rituals, symbolism and artistry of Ireland’s Neolithic people. Their astronomical and engineering expertise is displayed every year on the winter solstice when a single shaft of light pierces the monument through a “light box” and illuminates the entire burial chamber at the heart of the tomb. That such accuracy was achieved so many millennia ago is just one of the reasons why Newgrange continues to intrigue archeo-astronomers.
Knowth
Chris Hill
Although Newgrange is more widely known, the vast monument at Knowth stands as one of the true marvels of the ancient world. One and a half times the size of Newgrange, it features two long internal passages and is encircled by 18 smaller satellite tombs, an awe-inspiring architectural achievement. At Knowth, you can also feast your eyes on exceptional megalithic art. Large stones decorated with spirals, wave-like motifs and geometric symbols are thought to display details of important rituals, represent maps of the stars or simply celebrate life. Known as the “Fairy Mound of Darkness”, Dowth, by contrast, has been reclaimed by nature to a much greater extent. Though there are currently no guided tours of the tomb, visitors are free to explore the outside of the structure.
