Megalithic Passage Tomb in Newgrange, Ireland
Even with all the enchantments of urban Ireland, the Emerald Isle beckons with the promise of not only a green countryside, but a distinctively historical one. During a past trip and with the help of tour guide Ciaran Ganter, a fun-loving bloke who definitely possesses the Irish gift of gab, I got out of Dublin for a day.
Half owner of the family business, Ciaran is a well-versed tourism escort who introduced me to the prehistoric site of the Megalithic Passage Tomb at Newgrange.
Built about 3200 B.C. (older than Stonehenge and even the Egyptian pyramids of Giza), this serious archaeological find is the largest and best preserved of Irish mythology's fairy mounds -- home to the god of love, Oenghus.
Myths aside, Newgrange's grassy top was buried for centuries, the mound rediscovered in 1699 when a road was being built. The major excavation of this World Heritage Site started in 1962, with a rebuilding of the original out of local white quartz.
At the winter solstice, the rising sun shines down a long passage at Newgrange, magically lighting up its chamber to form the shape of a cross.
Amazing!
Sadly, being privy to entry during this time means winning a lottery to be placed on a waiting list that has been booked ahead for years. (See a video of the Newgrange Winter Solistice below).
Still, you can tour this sacred place year round. Through a decorated doorway, a very narrow, very low path (duck!) gradually widens, opening into a central compartment with cone-shaped dome, decorated with spiral shapes some say were created by ancient Celts.
The latter concept seems impossible given the Newgrange carvings were determined to have been done 2,500 years prior to when the Celts ever reached Ireland.
Questions regarding the mysterious Megalithic Passage Tomb still exist for archaeologists, amateurs (like me) and professionals alike.
For another article on Ireland, click HERE.
Comments
After reading interesting articles about Ireland, such as yours, I really am motivated to visit - just don't know the easiest and not too expensive way to do so.
"Rum de rum rud a derimo"? Anyone know what it means?
Ireland is indeed a land of many mysteries.
I hadn't heard about this historic site in Ireland. I'll put it on my list of places to visit
Wow! This is an amazing place. I want to go during the soltice though to see the cross of sun...how fascinating.
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