Photo: Wanderlust
Unforgettable Unique and Iconic Things to Do in Ireland; Wanderlust
Newgrange: The Winter Solstice; ireland.com
The winter solstice happens every year on 21 December. Nowhere is the celebration more dramatic than at the passage tomb of Newgrange, which predates the pyramids.
Source: Newgrange: The Winter Solstice
A blast from the past: Boyne Valley; Ireland.com
A blast from the past: Boyne Valley
From mystical tombs to Samhain festivities – why Boyne Valley is the real home of Halloween; Irish Examiner
Sophie Goodall learns about Ireland’s brand-new Púca Festival, set to knock pumpkins off their pedestals.
Source: From mystical tombs to Samhain festivities – why Boyne Valley is the real home of Halloween
Immense timber structure found at ‘sacred’ Newgrange site during summer drought; Ronan McGreevy; Irish Times
Newgrange discoveries have ‘truly transformed’ our understanding of ancient site…
Source: Immense timber structure found at ‘sacred’ Newgrange site during summer drought
Secrets of Ireland’s ancient passage tomb Knowth published free online; Irish Central
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the world-renowned Eastern Tomb at Knowth, the Royal Irish Academy is publishing six books on the excavation, online, for free.
Source: Secrets of Ireland’s ancient passage tomb Knowth published free online
Newgrange: Ireland’s amazing feat of Stone Age engineering; Maureen O’Hare; CNN
Newgrange passage tomb is one of the earliest and greatest feats of solar alignment, built 1,000 years before Stonehenge. Viewers can see it by lottery only.
Source: Newgrange: Ireland’s amazing feat of Stone Age engineering
Ancient tomb’s awesome astrological light show draws crowds; RT
Ireland – Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne
An astounding display of astrological genius by the ancient Irish – best showcased by the once-a-year illumination of a giant prehistoric tomb – has been scuppered by bad weather.
The highly-anticipated 5,000-year-old sun ritual, which occurs annually on the shortest day of the year (December 21), sees a beam of light travel up the burial monument’s narrow passageway before lighting up its main chamber for 17 minutes.
However, the majesty of Newgrange – an engineering masterpiece and a focal point in Ireland’s rich tapestry of mythology – is still weather-dependent. Overcast skies and rain meant the light show never came to pass.
The Newgrange passage tomb in County Meath is one of Ireland’s greatest known historical monuments, and was due to take center stage on Wednesday.
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