Thought to have been constructed over 5,000 years ago, the Stone Age monument at Newgrange is one of Ireland’s great historic attractions. Located in the Boyne Valley, County Meath, this large Neolithic mound is older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza.
In the form of a large circular structure, the inside of Newgrange is filled with stone passageways and large chambers, with the whole building ringed by 97 colossal kerbstones. Today we can only guess at the exact purpose for which it was constructed, but archaeologists believe it must have been a kind of tomb or sacred temple.
Built by the ancient farming community that prospered in the fertile Boyne Valley all those millennia ago, it is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This will hopefully protect the wonders and mystery of Newgrange for future generations.
The monument is part of a complex of ancient buildings located on a bend in the River Boyne, known collectively as Brú na Bóinne, which also includes around 35 smaller mounds. Visitor access to Newgrange is only by guided tour from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre on the south side of the river, with no direct public access to the site.
The ancient and enigmatic monument at Newgrange holds a mysterious appeal and is a must-visit destination for any visitor in the area. It gives a tantalising insight into what life here must have been like for Neolithic famers and offers a direct link to the long-forgotten lives of our ancestors.
