![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WwxHspF5jsAfBQtsXVeKEL-sTxnzCc_p6AxG7ZTl4JWIzNPEqy7DMXTbHb8oCqdmefaKEzFJ_iU60j8mTT_Cm97pDh6ZZcG2rzzfwJpQXhINqpN3_m0OYI6UKEQ9YHtxwP9P/s320/7428.the+boyne.jpg)
Our last full day in Ireland was just that - very full. We first headed north of Dublin to visit Bru na Boinne - the name is based on the Boyne river, which is shown here in this image.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_6vMGt2XNqetvfAsTqzgobu9nH2_XtB5tNnZekVmVmdJlk7JOPpvovuNgf7YHg2wMig2N1IvqIwEeWBwcwlTesc6SGrG20-1LO_NViZ1X07ICJFApMg49hSWMqJY1STNr-2P/s320/7430.bru+na+boinne.jpg)
We found the visitors center and purchased tickets to visit Newgrange and Knowth. You can only access those two sites by bus. This is the queue to the bus loading dock.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiageWq8zLV0hKPnLJVzPEzh4UhNm1in0vx0QwL-4fLSXMocMU3LPsAr52Y03SKhGVSGwuvJLcQz1p17_og0kZrIoOrhdfNK4P6Coy-3qMwx53n6zEpGr8gwzLx81hiMM028cyP/s320/7433.bru+na+boinne.jpg)
This is Newgrange, a passage tomb that is aligned with the dawn sunlight of the winter solstice.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWk1lX0Y7PAYVZqJsMk6nLsqSb_XBfmjk7OoZS9F3SoHubO7aO4g2xWcaKy_7Bs9KI1IcFXO5pNBQ-NY7bgk2wqCl6CjbnNugd16jat1unNk0RiFkRDtrP7BRbUV0__hWwqF4/s320/7438.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
The tomb is faced with quartz rock, lined at the base with large curbstones that have neolithic engravings, and there are monolithic stones that surround the tomb.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcNh3OWToTxmX5_5niXoW4_Me92wg20tbsfInj_sLplEyN-_xxWLLgeJBSYdnR5MRN-yr-Q679VUxe9tNLlQU7uTepx0W0AXkQIGo04AqMPp50Jhp3fnzhu9ZkRNJ8HYODxaK/s320/7439.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
A close-up of the white quartze and curb stones.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-EOrDBfVsehPnc5YnAO5pgycjUswFHg-OvDNreKBWz2JAL_1ajkVamkc3ejG0GWPPecFxwcuwD7hlWVD3NFqI841KrOIKMO9Kt4M1nR_mpE7Q6lmVrIFTJPhlTbv_BUU-TOn/s320/7453.wc.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
This is the passage entrance. Theres a window up above the portal and that is where the winter soltice light enters the tomb passage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMQHQRzuQ2B7Bwr9ukY_1VmE-mmBb0tO1Ph7QvkCx9IcHpXsOIB9uXVP4w-haetD-8CLGwkDfw-ETJ4CwLPzIFrHNZQAy2EPPOe4OJn94N-J_hA-DZ3iXpbfFKZePJMj1txFv/s320/7442.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
Beautiful engravings on the portal stone.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35v2-G_3WC-hATXhhnMsMhbScM81H-DicUhILv9PmWAlhIWu4s4gfb1xcjZspuqswRccodw64FBuMs4rJSV4s85DaYk4fkcv_wQ50Aaao-UFuIlsOf1UVyECbx_H0yJEEFx8F/s320/7443.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
One of the monoliths in front of the entrance.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZogYmHDpBKyQdUJdizhLy3xkZMgpbWAC_gsA5kz3mNWomnlAMtdHLwzw9585mXoChZJlJ6JAebZ2fTEAcRiFYZ-ki4vGEVQTuhflyshuxyus5Q36m53j6as1pGx8oClmebXe/s320/7444.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
The monoliths are dotted around the circumference of the tomb site.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GwuxZEp3MGLkl0NOa-tsAwErdXycOJVhDbFRtj52uybFtxlcJUGxuv0b1XxLgWEQOGouWBd37ZSYp0-EMN7B6Qxeeob3iKzxZdUco9ky7GykJFXv_yc9BmPotlix_7bhIAzt/s320/7445.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
These are markers for where wooden logs would have been placed. The site is full of ceremonial configurations of stones and wood.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj356xwtGU-BUNWvYO016oKCzj_am1D1EzLZi9g8j1hjFNe4vlh8rRgPh4va46gCr-yMeMtaCV7PwSjmz1s4PkiSYrjy0ZRCwDjNWPH363Ik6wC6E3J32njYp8HoIs3HHPEYgqh/s320/7448.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
The passage is very narrow. Overweight or claustrophobic people are recommended to not enter. No photos are allowed inside, but there are three chambers, all with some artwork. There's also a demonstration of what the solstice light beam is like.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0Q_bNZEX4C484BRhAWnt4h2YAYwSXmaCG3iKTiwRE8GCoGjJjATjKKpz2odkkJzL_yV2L3oUKNEXeI8ImaeZGx4r5C39MXvQsKTK7jIaAZgXMNTQRXRj0gDQGrjYXFUD9AK-/s320/7449.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
There's another small passage tomb out in that tilled field.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AICN31UKiffXBV60VfPibmL1NxP8Enx29JMdLKuuOWSKPe90D7VxGYuI7ytRdBkLujf_hUe7amRruCEz1ENe1NhgnmULJU9DkNENv32lan8iWPiof5AzdnQIz9UXZPdS6S3v/s320/7450.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
There are bridges over the curbstones for access into the passage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeE7CCy5Ck48_0Bzyww_zjuABpkfHqTJa9dniE6PabQgF-K1JzS-TQmC1vCtrxwQkAwbJeblZxOvgofGiU6McS7Pquhlteh9McJUEgeQTjCIVLatKT8Ucz0wM_WCILb4Dj9XEF/s320/7454.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
Close-up of the portal stone.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxPgvrjqG3F4xFKDt5yd7xHRysaQMy_6OxeRnI8qvgXrNsU2Ycu0n95M_pa8x_3VIKE1SecxpbKSqkAu_CMzG3EuNpJFsMB7_sHlx641C_Tud6FiCR8DwZNEN2v8Qg3HuPlsB/s320/7458.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
One of the ceremonial sites on the ground.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCuYyi2YDsRdUVffDgkLYHLVHSQA6hiiV4CfqH_bZ8FAZnvdfrNh-nR3uJRkL-olGRwqPyMBqKY8crK1eQ2jufty8DqVyFJ2SIC2WOYO-G13WTVeqnY6D87JgD6NxSRLk1Dbm/s320/7459.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
It was another very rainy day, but the sky made a fantastic back drop for the tomb.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdztwhn6i3GyP2isqZSh9Qeo27Uaz0M8c8-KdVOg8b4dkeVhWCM5V7PK2vnu9CegwFFu99YCa6fi3crE7Lk87CMcC8qGWkZQNq7ORYjliqNaBzib70HsyOFHxwJoaEjVvX6s9Y/s320/7463.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
Info to read about.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhRaFaE4ZAiGcKF64lW2df7LwW2F10Q571-NTj2FGEnVqyi7W0sxgURHM-n8Xw8tIArT8F1pqsPDJNxKbW9xqw4XxYQHmqeUyshTaKAZOlx2-Sqy6KVE3aVKUn42EgK-KEf4k/s320/7464.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
A map showing the other neolithic sites in the area.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZ77jKwNcoFHtHVup3p5yEwGZeaX-amhfiNRV_DAAAjNrgsWW_gKUewNfa955XqSrjXE4idwqor3gPVbkl93nptPSgk7KaUpXz6EJcsIQyBmJ5bdb0c4qWBcAFC_DDoZprSyO/s320/7466.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
Preservation efforts of the tomb to take care of the neolithic art on the curb stones.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4M7JFeholmh8mx96XBDSd0lTb-lqaS1U84vnO8Z3YNt_g27YEWTiBlGvAgf1ptLE9FJOiq-SRZ3bW0WEp-yzNoOkeIOr6fhQgjvCQawDbyE78vqlFg1rUNLEbSexk3W5YXhif/s320/7469.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
More neolith art....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiIDdwRVufhVKiS71k3WeoCt2ivYEjSKs7lSDV4Y23MBSbbRcqasyuMGYvvo-DHs1FqFrK42nTSWKVgtepfQ0Jy0uT9bpO8hSP7ZmO0kNtGqDkyeX1OsRc2L9QTWebWCM5rOf/s320/7471.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
ditto
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFf8VBxg8bKD65mBogpJy8d6dIaGDb10R1FlX1WcKhkj2r0ZC0LSCfR12x4OwwYa0OXmzY8Vlb0xG-Uo1VWdOX_-3g1toQJ1BFxwF33K6hDMfTiseiC1tZal-jWlC2z-hPCnd/s320/7472.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
ditto
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAwxW2mcHqPS5HDBkwAQUMgMYTFYdnZWj2vlLMg4qhB_FnSRAPWZXRhuNpBdzjeDPGpfzNDjhT66Jo_hQbACK6f97j_Z0uf9pK993b7nPvzyX7-bYJpLF2d11ETFP1g82egue/s320/7473.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
I never did see a sign about this small structure.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdwNSjuuueFB9GcxogbqKh6D12iTrtr7gJwYkF9XwzBknUxIYn-l6zTs4bmP1R8CdmafP6hvz8hktd6oTDBre26ppysERJfqezYeEzcwaUvJDjN0XrHfkD2TWqYheUwZgu8hY/s320/7481.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
More preservation efforts.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76fvZAIQlc4cbwT15d9g5UQxAIsrst5m82V19ZMXBx6iy58RDmFJyUX-34xa3EC-tns-nEaWaOmDUYcwDYjlf6nDNTvT_dg0T4PdsV2CVGAa3_tvHqEIpGCgfEULwU-hKQtcF/s320/7482.bru+na+boinne.newgrange.jpg)
This is the backside of Newgrange. It's definitely worth a visit. This tour was one of our major highlights of the Ireland trip.
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