Roadtrip - Newgrange

To me there has always been something strange and beautiful about Newgrange found on the banks of the river Boyne in County Meath.

I find it strange that the Pyramids and Stonehenge are held in higher regard by many, even do the Neolithic Passage Tomb outside of Navan pre-dates both structures by 500 years or so. It holds just as many unanswered questions as the Pyramids or Stonehenge.

• Who built it

• How did they built it

• How did they transport the rock - horses had not even reached Ireland at this point and the majority of the country was covered in forest. Some of the rock used came from Wicklow which is 80 km or so away.

• How were they able to align the chamber with the winter solstice.

And you could go on and on asking such questions. Newgrange will leave you with more questions than answers but ultimately it's a place worth visiting.

The inside of the chamber has never been reconstructed and remains as it has for 5000 years. During the tour you go inside and pass the main sacred rock at the door with the spiral art. You proceed to walk up through a narrow passage and into the chamber.

Here the guide turns off the lights and with the aid of an artificial light demonstrates what the morning of the winter solstice looks like as the light makes its way up the narrow passage and into the chamber.

24 people can fit in the chamber at one time and every year over 35 thousands people apply in the hope of being inside to witness the light entering as part of the winter solstice.

Newgrange is located less than an hour outside of Dublin and costs less than 10 euro. The tour is well worth doing and it's definitely something you should have on your Irish Road trip Whishlist.