Newgrange

Wow!
Wow again!
I’d learned about it in school. I’d seen the pictures. I’d heard mention of it in the national news every 21^st December. Newgrange has been ingrained into me. Yet I’d never been to visit. And here’s me living less than an hour to the place. For shame Cristin L, for shame.
We had a Aussie couple coming to visit, but they’d been to Ireland twice before so have seen everything there is to see in the city and Wicklow. But Newgrange fitted into that category of what none of us had seen.
We started out in the visitors centre while we waited for the bus to Nowth. It was good. Some mocked up scenes of what it must have been like in the area some 5000 odd years ago. We moved through it fairly quickly if I’m honest.
Next up to Nowth, which was a revelation. I confess I did not know this was here also. The tour was excellent, our guide was so enthusiastic about the place. It rubbed off and I was too. The highlights here was going underground through the really small tunnel and going up on top of the mound for a look around the area.
Back to base, we then boarded the bus to Newgrange. Blue skies gone, it was a lot moodier. A quick talk before going into the passage tomb. Inside the tomb itself I was surprised how dim the simulated solstice light was. Don’t get me wrong, the structure is still flipping amazing. But for some reason, from learning about the place I thought it was lit up like Christmas :)
The only criticism I have was the splitting up of the group into two for going into the passage of Newgrange. It wasn’t evenly split and our group was so packed in that only one of our group of four got to see the light properly.
Back at the visitor centre we refueled with some very nice sandwiches from the Brambles Coffee Shop.
And back in the carpark before setting off I found a geocache that had been hidden there. Another to add to my list.
I high recommend Newgrange.

Utterly magical place. Couldn’t believe that in my 22 years living back home before legging it to the States (and a dozen or so visits back) I’d never been. Thankfully my wife wanted to do a little roadtrip this time, rather than stay in Cork, and was massively glad we did.
The weight of time presses down. Surrounds you. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up. You’re in a different place, now. Put that smartphone away, disconnect yourself, and soak in history.
A humble request from everyone else who’s there with you, though. If you have a screaming toddler, either take turns going in while leaving him outside, or just don’t go in at all. Respect this precious gem in the heart of Ireland.

I’m a nut for ancient artifacts, so this was on my must-​see list when visiting Ireland. As inspiring as the pyramids in Gaza … and older. It befuddles the mind that 5200 years ago, people understood geometry and physics such as to create a cairn which is still watertight, is aligned to be flooded with light on December 21 at sunrise, and is inscribed with intricate patterns and signs. Worth the time! Wonderful displays in the center; café and usual touristy stuff in the shop. One of three open to the public in the area — all three must be accessed by buses from the visitor center. The others are Knowth and Downth. Go early so you miss the tour buses; not far north of Dublin. Landscape is dotted with unexcavated cairns; these are worth the visit.
While in the area, also visit Monasterboice. Historic site of an ancient monastery with remains of two churches and two famous high Celtic crosses and a round tower.

Awe struck as any Texan can be when standing proudly all of 5′ tall inside this tomb. Well worth the drive and time, yep the rest of my party took their sticks and headed for the tall grass, I chose Newgrange. Mind boggling at best. Suggest traveling here in September as it is perfect and you won’t have to lower your expectations about the weather or surroundings, so close to Dublin, grab your compass and wheels and get here ASAP.
If you have traveled to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or traversed through many cathedrals as I am drawn to do, you will never regret going here. You will leave with many more questions than answers and a memory of what you now can’t forget. Yes, you are now a part of what has gone before you.
Amazing! Unfortunately most folks I talk with glaze over so as not to impress anyone at the next cocktail party you attend, or a future not so successful blind date or an unjustified rejection after your second job interview refer people to Unilocal about the nuances of Newgrange.

One of the highlights of the trip.
A tomb from the Neolithic period (3200 BC according to the internet). It is older than some other popular historical sights such as Stonehenge. At a certain time of year, the sun aligns and floods the tomb with light (I believe they have a special, probably expensive, event where people can be inside the tomb at that time). It’s pretty amazing this was constructed so long ago.
When you enter, it makes you pretty claustraphobic (watch your head!) and its impressive to think people made the tomb out of stone. It was interesting to see the artwork etched into the stones (and some later graffiti before they started protecting it) and it was even more interesting to stand in pitch black darkness when the tour guide turned off the light.
In addition, the countryside of rolling hills of green, sheep, and cows was gorgeous.

Newgrange is a Neolithic passage tomb you can walk into surrounded by the remnants of a Bronze Age stone circle. If you’re interested in archaeology, you should check this out! You also get excellent views of the Boyne River and surrounding countryside. Definitely worth a day trip from Dublin.

There are absolutely no words to describe how spiritual and magical Newgrange is. Even if you don’t actually go inside, which I totally recommend you do, you go to Newgrange and it is as if you are spiritually connected with everyone and everything that has ever lived or happened there. Visiting Newgrange was one of the best experiences I have ever had, and I truly felt a connection to my Celtic ancestry while there. I would definitely recommend the tour and I personally cannot wait to go back.

This place is the cool kid of neolithic tombs.
I was surprised how narrow the passage way was into the tomb and felt like Indiana Jones! Our tour guide Nichola was an incredible orator; her emphasis and dramatic pauses were transfixing.
When inside the tomb, she shut all the lights off and gave us a synthetic example of how the tomb looks during the sunrise around winter solstice.
Student entry was 3 euro, I think it’s 6 for adults. And when you are leaving put your name in the lottery box to enter a drawing to be invited back on the next winter solstice.

Jeebus… where to start on this one?! Newgrange is a 5000 year old tombe and religious site… erm we think! As with all such sites (the pyrimids in Egypt and Stonehenge in the UK are comprable examples) we can only guess at what the builders had in mind.
To say we are lucky to have a site as impressive and important as this on our doorstep (about an hour and a bit from Dublin) is a huge understatement, it looks as impressive is it should be after a reconstruction some 30 years ago by a bunch of very very clever archaeologists. the results can be viewed by booking in advance and putting your name down for the 3 year waiting lists to be there at the summer and winter solstices.
Opening times
February — April: Daily 09.30 — 17.30.
May: Daily 09.00 — 18.30.
June — Mid September: Daily 09.00 — 19.00.
Mid — End September: Daily 09.00 — 18.30.
October: Daily 09.30 — 17.30.
November — January: Daily 09.00 — 17.00.