Newgrange, Ireland Travel Photos
April 14, 2008
Dún Fhearghusa
It is a national monument not far from Slane and approximately 4500 years old, about 500 years older than the Pyramid of Giza and 1000 years older than Stonehenge. It is one of the three tombs (Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth) in Co. Meath. Each mound is about 80 meters across and nearly 12 meters in height. Inside the mound is a long passage (about 18 meters long) it takes you to the cross-shaped main chamber. The chamber has a corbelled roof which is about 6m high. The roof has remained essentially intact and waterproof for over 5,000 years.
The passage tombs was built in such a way that at dawn on the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, a narrow beam of sunlight for a very short time illuminates the floor of the chamber at the end of the long passageway.
Fantastic place. It can get very busy there ... if you are planning to go there make sure you get there early enough to see both places. Unfortunately we were there far too late so we only got see one tomb.
The passage tombs was built in such a way that at dawn on the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, a narrow beam of sunlight for a very short time illuminates the floor of the chamber at the end of the long passageway.
Fantastic place. It can get very busy there ... if you are planning to go there make sure you get there early enough to see both places. Unfortunately we were there far too late so we only got see one tomb.
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