Newgrange

OK, Newgrange is a World Heritage Site, think of it as Ireland's Stonehenge. Its a huge artificial mound, with a chamber inside which is wonderfully lit up only for a few days around the solstice (for which there is a lottery to get in and see it.) It's a truly magical place, and with its bright limestone covered sides would have been visible from great distances originally.

There is a whole complex of similar and related sites in the area, which the Irish government haven't yet managed to drive a motorway through.

Luck seemed to be with me on this trip: all the signs were saying that the tours for today were fully booked, but when I got to the visitor centre, it turned out they had just one ticket left for the last tour, so I got in!

Anyway, here are the pictures...

The big picture;

Some of the famous stones which go around the outside of the base, and which I'm sure many people miss.

And the entrance: ignore the fat bloke, he's not a druid or anything. the white stones are where the original line would have been, the grey stones have been cut away to make access easier for modern visitors. It's still frustrating though, very crowded when you get in, and so little time to see it properly.

written by  martin_b on April 21, 2007 from Donore, Ireland
from the travel blog: Eastern Ireland
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