A great round tomb with intriguing spiraled rock carvings, Newgrange was built around 3100 to 2900 BCE; it is Ireland’s very own wonder for the world–centuries older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt and a thousand years older than Stonehenge.
It has been said that Newgrange “cannot be regarded as other than the expression of some kind of powerful force or motivation”, and the feeling is definitely palpable here. The positioning of Newgrange definitely gives hints of significant astronomical alignments, and its round shape and spiral carvings all add to the mystery.
There is lots of speculation as to the purpose of this place, and its original significance. Though the answer to this is somewhat obscured by 5,000 years of history, when you are at the site there is no denying it was built with reverence and intelligence. The tomb was constructed with precision and forethought: on the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) its alignment is just right to allow a shaft of sunlight into the tomb through a large opening above the entrance. For 17 minutes, once a year, this beam of light shines through and lights up a stone basin and the spiral carvings inside the chamber.
The great energy and mystical power of Newgrange cannot be explained, only experienced. Myths abound, one of which claims that Newgrange provided endless supplies of ale, three trees that were always in fruit, and two pigs. Though we may not find all of this at this sacred site today, we can guarantee that at the very least we will find endless supplies of ale as we meander our way through the rest of Ireland! Join us this September!
