Townleyhall megalithic passage tomb was built by Neolithic people around 3000BC, it is part of the Boyne valley group of passage tombs which includes the much larger mounds at Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. The chamber at Towneyhall is a simple rectangle at the end of a short passage.

Excavations at Townleyhall by George Eogan began in 1960, Townleyhall was the first of the Boyne Valley passage tomb mounds to be excavated in modern times.


Excavations at the Towneyhall showed that people had lived there before the tomb was constructed, maybe the cremated remains found inside the tomb were of the people who had lived on the site.



The Townleyhall passage tomb is located in a field just off the N51 Drogheda / Slane road, the mound is visible from the road and access is by the entrance pictured above. Coming from the Drogheda direction, it is on the right hand side of the road after the main Townleyhall entrance.


Ordnance Survey map 35
National Grid Reference O 023 758
GPS position N53.72108 W6.451071

The name Townleyhall is from the surname Townley, unfortunately the ancient name for the burial mound has been lost over time. The mounds at Newgrange and Dowth are visible from Townleyhall, as the crow flies Dowth is 2km from Townleyhall and Newgrange is over 3km from Townleyhall.

Boyne Valley Private Day Tours

Pick up and return to your accommodation or cruise ship. Suggested day tour: Newgrange World Heritage site, 10th century High Crosses at Monasterboice, Hill of Tara the seat of the High Kings of Ireland and the Hill of Slane where St. Patrick let a Paschal fire in 433  More ...