Newgrange

For any visitor to the Dublin region, a visit to the megalithic passage-tomb of Newgrange is an absolute must. This fascinating World Heritage Site is believed to have been constructed about 3,200BC, making it 600 years older than the Giza Pyramids and 1,000 years older than Stonehenge.

Forgotten for thousands of years, Newgrange was rediscovered in 1699 when labourers moving stones discovered the entrance to the tomb. The structure covers over an acre of ground and is surrounded by 97 kerbstones, many of which are engraved with megalithic art.

The most fascinating feature of Newgrange is the fact that the inner chamber is illuminated at dawn of the winter solstice. This happens from December 19 to December 23 at dawn of each day, and lasts just 17 minutes.

While 200,000 people visit Newgrange each year, only the lucky few get a place in the inner chamber on the mornings around the solstice. Each year, a lottery is held for the coveted 50 places available to the public in the chamber in these mornings. Last year, there were 27,485 applications in total. Nearby, Newgrange’s sister sites of Knowth and Dowth were also declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1993.

Newgrange has long been a source of fascination for astronomists. As well as the winter solstice event, the moon and Venus can also be seen from the inner chamber at certain points in their cycles. Newgrange is open to visitors all year and is located in County Meath, an easy drive from Dublin city centre or Dublin Airport. You can rent a car from Malone Car Rentals at both of these locations and be at Newgrange within an hour.

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