Discover tombs older than the pyramids at Brú na Bóinne

Brú na Bóinne – 5000 Years of History

Ireland Ancient East

The Boyle Valley located in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East is full of mystery, excitement and adventure. A tour through Ireland’s Ancient East will be an experience in living history where magical things may happen. Brú na Bóinne dates from the Neolithic or New Stone Age and is one of the largest and most important prehistoric megalithic sites in Europe.

Newgrange

Newgrange is a passage tomb that is over 5000 years old which is located in what is known as the Boyne Valley in Co. Meath. It is a UNESCO world heritage site that is famous for the event which takes place on the Winter solstice where at sunrise light floods the into the chamber and passage illuminating the inside of the tomb. Only 100 people are allowed attend this event which is allocated by a lottery system due to is popularity.

Newgrange is just one of a complex of monuments built along the River Boyne and are collectively known as Brú na Bóinne. The other two principal monuments in this complex are Knowth and Dowth but you will also find over 30 other smaller mounds that can be explored.

Dowth megalithic tomb | ©Failte Ireland | Courtesy Bryan Hanna

The new state of the art, immersive visitor experience focuses on the monuments of the World Heritage Site during the Neolithic period. It transports visitors back 5000 years to the pinnacle of passage tomb building when Brú na Bóinne contained some of the largest buildings in the world.

Knowth megalithic tombs | ©Failte Ireland | Courtesy Bryan Hanna

Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre is the starting point for all visits to Newgrange and Knowth.

Hill of Tara

The Hill of Tara was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland and the most sacred site in ancient Ireland.

Trim Castle

Built by Hugh de Lacy in the year 1173, Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland and is most famous for featuring in the movie “Braveheart” starting ‘Mel Gibson’.