From Dublin, we took a day trip out to see Newgrange and Monasterboice.
Newgrange is the site of a "megalithic passage tomb mound" dated back to around 3000 BC, about 500 years older than the Great Pyramid at Giza in Egypt. It was built in such a way that when the sun rises on the day of the winter solstice, it shines directly along the passage inside the tomb for 17 minutes, illuminating the passage floor. Human remains found inside Newgrange suggest that its main function was that of a tomb, but the construction's tie to the winter solstice suggests that this was probably also a site of great religious significance to the people who made it.
They take small groups in at a time. The passage is very narrow and cramped. Once inside, the tour guides replicate the effect of the sun on the morning of winter solstice. I thought it was truly amazing.
Newgrange was, hands down, the coolest thing we had a chance to see while in Ireland. The surrounding area has many similar passage tombs that we didn't have time to explore. Someday, perhaps, we'll go back...
Anyway, on to the pictures:
 |
| Newgrange from the outside. (Sadly, no pictures allowed inside.) |
 |
| The entrance to Newgrange. The stones along the bottom are intricately carved. |
 |
| A closer look at the intricate carvings on the stones at the base of the tomb. These are around the back of the structure. |
 |
| Angie selecting a shamrock from the grounds at Newgrange while we waited for our turn to go inside. |
 |
| Honestly, I don't know what this stuff is. Unmarked graves is my guess. Looks cool, though! |
Monasterboice is the ruins of an early Christian settlement, founded in the 5th century. It features some amazing and intricate Irish "High Crosses", which are really the main attraction. I admit, I just wanted to roam about on my own at this point, so I didn't listen to our tour guide tell us about this place, but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit there.
 |
| Monasterboice was home to a monastery, which was burned in 1057. The ruins of a building and watchtower remain on the site. |
 |
| Religious carvings depict the life and ministry of Christ on this High Cross. |
 |
| Beautiful and intricate! |
Okay. I'm sure you're tired of my pictures by now, but just one more post (rather brief), and our trip will be at an end. :)
PS: I'll brag a little, because I'm proud of it, that pretty much all of the pictures I've shared were taken by me. I'm not much of a photographer, so I'm impressed they came out so well. Of course, it helps to have something amazing to photograph. :D
