Newgrange

Mhairi’s ryanair air flight was an hour delayed, but sure that’s ok. Picked her up at the airport and we drove North (thanks Matt for the loan of the car) to newgrange which is in the county of Meath. It’s an old (5000 years in fact) passage grave.

If you look closely at the entrance picture you will see that there are two entrances – one for people to go through and the other (called the roof box) allows the sun to shine into the central chamber on the winter solstice. It is one of the two UNESCO sites in the Republic of Ireland (the giants causeway is one too).

There also used to be a stone henge (enclosure) around newgrange too, and some of the large stones you see around the edge (especially at the entrance) are highly decorated. It’s a great place and I really recommend getting there if you are touring around Ireland.

After Newgrange it was off to see Melifont Abbey – a cistercian abbey close by. It was one of the first (if not the first) abbey founded in Ireland. It was attacked countless times, and even used by the English forces in the battle of the Boyne. It has since fallen into disrepair and even used for housing pigs!

Then it was onto Monasterboice – again an ancient monastic site, and home to some very ancient (10th Century) High Crosses – pictured below.

Then back to town, out to dinner with the family – and after Mhairi and I went on to have a pint at The Cobblestone pub. More excellent trad music (played every day in the pub). Just wish I’d known about the place earlier!