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The Megalithic Passage Tombs of Newgrange, Knowth,
Dowth, Fourknocks, Loughcrew and
Tara are located in the present day County of Meath on the east coast of Ireland. The Boyne Valley
Mounds at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth were built around 3200BC making them older than
Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Built by Neolithic farming communities about 5000 years ago, the passage
tombs have clear astronomical alignments such as the Winter Solstice Sunrise at
Newgrange and the Equinox Sunrise at Loughcrew.
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Judging from the splendour and magnificence of Newgrange and Knowth it is likely that these
temples of the ancestors were places of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance, much as present day
cathedrals are places of worship where dignitaries may be laid to rest.
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There is a lively debate about whether these wonderful megalithic
structures were built primarily as burial tombs, sacred temples or
astronomical observatories. While passage tomb is the
traditional description for Newgrange and similar structures, chambered
cairn or passage mound are the descriptions favoured by
those who consider the passage tomb description too narrow.
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The large stones surrounding and inside the Passage Tombs are decorated with Megalithic Art such as spirals,
concentric circles, triangles, zigzags and images which have been interpreted as the sun, moon and the human face.
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Irish passage tombs tend to occur in clusters traditionally described
as a Necropolis or cemetery. The Boyne cluster includes Newgrange,
Knowth, Dowth and Townleyhall.
The other great clusters in County Meath are on the hills around Loughcrew.
The ancient Boyne Valley passage tomb mounds at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth have been designated World Heritage
Site status by UNESCO and attract 200,000 visitors per year. The sites and Visitor
Centre are managed by the OPW (Office of Public Works).
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Newgrange is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the winter
solstice sun. The site is open to the public with controlled access to the
passage and chamber. Tours of Newgrange start at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre
located near the village of Donore, Co. Meath.
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Knowth has two passages and is surrounded by seventeen
satellite cairns. The site is open to the public; however there is no public access to the interior passages and chambers. Tours
of Knowth also start at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. |
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Dowth is the only one of the three large Brú na Bóinne
Passage Tombs which is not accessible from the Visitor Centre
situated on the south bank of the river. Visitors to Dowth must drive directly to the site on the north bank,
a couple of miles from the Slane / Drogheda road.
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Fourknocks with its short passage leading into a wide pear shaped
chamber is in similar style to Tombs in Portugal. Just inside the main chamber to
the left of the entrance is one of the few representations of a human
face from the Neolithic Period in ancient Ireland. |
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Loughcrew Cairns form the largest complex of Megalithic structures in Ireland.
The Cairns contain symbolic engravings similar in style to Newgrange. Like other
Passage Tombs in ancient Ireland, they have clear astrological alignments.
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Tara was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland in the first millennium A.D. however Tara
is also the site of a Passage Tomb known as the Mound of the Hostages that was built about 2,500 B.C.
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