Now housed in trinity college dublin, the world famous book of kells, one of the oldest books in the world at. Made up of counties meath and louth, it forms part of an area known as irelands ancient east. The boyne valley is an hours drive from gladstone in central queensland, australia. The ancient capital with a landscape of culture and heritage, explore the boyne valley history and landmarks. Visit the heritage capital of ireland as your personal driver brings you from one location to the other to stroll around at your ease. Discover the beauty and history of irelands boyne valley. The valley of the boyne irish pictures 1888 library ireland. Visit places filled with unforgetable experiences and prepare for an adventure through a land of legends. Follow the boyne valley route as it loops its way through counties meath and louth. The valley surrounding the boyne river is easily one of the most historyladen.
Sep 03, 20 in 1958, in his book about primitive mythology, joseph campbell recounted a folk tale from the boyne valley in which a local had told him the light of the morning star, venus, shone into the chamber of newgrange at dawn on one day every eight years and cast a beam upon a stone on the floor of the chamber containing two worn sockets. Articles such as this one were acquired and published with the primary aim of expanding the information on with greater speed and efficiency than has traditionally been possible. Situated on 16 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the boyne valley hotel is an elegent 19th century mansion which has been modernised to a comfortable home away from home whether you are travelling for business or leisure. Now housed in trinity college dublin, the world famous book of kells, one of the oldest books in the world at over 1200 years old was here in kells village. Another visitor to the boyne valley was cromwell who wreaked havoc at drogheda, an event which caused him to be hated in ireland. Should you have any queries on any aspect of this site or the battle of the boyne please do not hesitate to contact us. Newgrange, knowth, dowth, tara boyne valley, ireland. A summary of the battle of the boyne on july 1, 1690. The green boyne valley is a joy by car, and all the sights described here are within a 30minute drive of one another. The fruits can be used to make sloe gin, and the wood used for. Discover boyne valley, birthplace of irelands ancient east boyne valley meath, ireland. All of the rooms with attached bathroom at boyne valley hotel have a tv, teacoffee and free wifi.
Irelands ancient east the boyne valley is a core area of irelands ancient east, the recently launched history and heritage tourism destination. Irelands ancient east connecting 5,000 years of history and creating a never to be forgotten experience on irelands east coast. Trim living history group will bring you on a walking tour around medieval trim, highlights include. Discovering the boyne valley the boyne valley is a place of history. The european association with the boyne valley began with john oxleys naming of the boyne river in 1823. Newgrange stone age passage tomb boyne valley, ireland. Virtually every important event in irish history took place in the boyne valley, making it the best place to start your holiday in ireland.
Highlights of the boyne valley include newgrange a unesco world heritage site, the celtic royal site on the hill of tara, the 10th century round tower and high crosses at monasterboice and the hill of slane where st. Loughcrew cairns and passage tombs, boyne valley scenic drive, co. Boyne valley complex the boyne valley complex is recognised as one of the jewels in europes megalithic crown. With that in mind we have devised both walking tours of the historic core dublin is a compact city best explored on foot and chauffeur driven tours of the city and environs. This wonderful 260 page historical geography of the boyne valley covers 7000 years, from prehistory to the twentieth century.
Today this area is designated as a world heritage site and is irelands first protected. This is the best book i have read about the boyne valley. Newgrange books 5000 year old passage tomb, ireland. The book is a collaboration between wellknown ballivor author and former rte radio producer john quinn and navan artist gerry flaherty, who provides a series of oil paintings. Things to do near boyne valley activities day tours, trim. In 1958, in his book about primitive mythology, joseph campbell recounted a folk tale from the boyne valley in which a local had told him the light of the morning star, venus, shone into the chamber of newgrange at dawn on one day every eight years and cast a beam upon a stone on the floor of the chamber containing two worn sockets.
The boyne valley home to irelands most ancient monuments. Guides clad in 17thcentury garb give musketfiring demos and recreate a cavalry charge at full gallop. At the battle of the boyne visitor centre, you can learn about the largestever gathering of troops on irish soil. Ireland s boyne valley is an area of great historical importance, of fertile lands, ancient crosses, abbeys. The boyne valley irelands ancient east boyne valley tours. Boyne valley tours private day tour to the boyne valley in irelands ancient east. Newgrange is a 5,200 year old passage tomb located in the boyne valley in irelands ancient east. Michael and jenny finegan run a mixed farm in the heart of the boyne valley. Dec 10, 2018 bru na boinne palace of the boyne or popularly known as the boyne valley tombs are passage tombs located near river boyne, 8 km west of drogheda, county meath. The battle of the boyne, a major battle in irish history, took place along the boyne near drogheda in 1690 during the williamite war in ireland. Well presented book on the boyne valley, covering its history, the landscape and the peoples who have left their imprint since prehistory.
Just a short drive from dublin airport or city, youll find a mythical valley steeped in ancient wonders. The section on newgrange and the other stone age sites of the boyne valley comprises 24 pages. Boyne valley tours county meath 2020 all you need to. Dublin city has numerous sites of interest and experiences that are well exploring. Today this area is designated as a world heritage site and is irelands first. Newgrange and the boyne valley monuments advanced lunar. The fruits can be used to make sloe gin, and the wood used for making walking sticks known as a shillelagh. The valley surrounding the boyne river is easily one of the most history laden pieces of land on an island replete with. The battle of the boyne took place at oldbridge where king william and king james battled it out for the throne of these islands. The boyne valley, situated on the east coast of ireland, is only 30 minutes from dublin.
Blackthorn bush in flower, photographed while on my daily walk, keep. Here, youll see the legacy of every big player in irelands history, from ancient pagans to high kings, early christian monks to angloirish aristocrats. Please be advised to wear sturdy footwear for this tour. It is irelands ancient capital and its most sacred and mythical landscape. The boyne valley is home to irelands most sacred ancient monuments.
Visit the boyne valley visitor centre to learn about the burial tombs of newgrange and knowth, both of which are over 5,000 years old and visit one of the tombs. The history of ireland might be written in tracing its banks, as william wilde father of oscar wrote in 1849. Formerly within the shire of calliope, in 2008 it became part of gladstone region. The boyne valley is a core area of irelands ancient east, the recently launched history and heritage tourism destination. If youre there in the summer, go on a sunday afternoon for a living history demonstration. The boyne valley mounds at knowth and newgrange were built around 3200bc making them older than stonehenge in england and the pyramids of giza in egypt. Newgrange and the bend of the boyne cork university press. If you dont drive, you can choose among many of the organised tours of the area. Private day tours of the boyne valley, county meath, rich in heritage and history. The site covers over 780 hectares where the majority of the monuments are located on the north side of the river. The boyne valley is a place of history, myths and legends. Boyne valley activities are an established activities company set on the banks of the river boyne in trim,co meath. Visit the glorious monastic age of ireland in the village of kells. Welcome to the boyne valley a beautiful place in central.
Bru na buinne newgrange and knowth more information. We offer a wide range of activities that cater for the young and old. Boyne valley in ireland is a place of history, myths, and legends. Discover boyne valley, birthplace of ireland s ancient east boyne valley meath, ireland. It is from here that the high kings of ireland ruled the country.
Jan 20, 2017 boyne valley in ireland is a place of history, myths, and legends. This rich valley is home to some of irelands most famous heritage sites and monuments tara. The valley as locals call it, is part of gladstones hinterland. For more information about woodhenge pit circles, please visit our educational resources page bru na boinne world heritage site. Boyne valley group was established in 1960 when malachy mccloskey, the company founder, launched the boyne valley honey brand in drogheda, where it is still based today. It is in close proximity to kroombit tops national park. The boyne valley mounds at newgrange, knowth and dowth were built around 3,200bc making them older than stonehenge in england and the pyramids of giza in egypt. The boyne valley historical society cottage was opened in 1988. Irelands welcome to the stranger also on kindle is an american widows account of her travels in ireland in 184445 on the eve of the great famine.
On the banks of the boyne in 1690 one of the most important battles in irish history was fought. The archaeological ensemble of the bend of the boyne was inscribed on the world heritage list in 1993 having been judged to have met three of the six criteria for cultural heritage of outstanding universal value. An bhoinn or abhainn na boinne is a river in leinster, ireland, the course of which is about 112 kilometres 70 mi long. The boyne valley is about 1 hour north of dublin and can be easily reached by car. Trim living history group step back in time with a medieval knight of trim with a hands on display that lets you feel the heft of a sword, try on a closed helmet and wear chain mail. The bend of the boyne had a pivotal role to play in irish history and this is. Welcome to our one day celtic boyne tour which will bring you through one of the most historically significant and ancient areas of ireland. A road trip through the boyne valley of ireland ancients east. Boyne valley guide pdf download boyne valley tours. This wonderful 236 page historical geography of the boyne valley covers 7000 years, from prehistory to the twentieth century. The megalithic passage tombs of newgrange, knowth, dowth, fourknocks, loughcrew and tara are located in presentday county meath in irelands ancient east. Newgrange was built by stone age farmers, the mound is 85m 279ft in diameter and m 43ft high, an area of about 1 acre. We look forward to welcoming you on your next visit to the visitor centre in oldbridge house. The megalithic passage tombs of newgrange, knowth, dowth, fourknocks, loughcrew and tara are located in presentday county meath in ireland s ancient east.
Discover boyne valley, birthplace of irelands ancient east. Feb 25, 2020 private day tours of the boyne valley, county meath, rich in heritage and history. Newgrange was constructed over 5,000 years ago about 3,200 b. The passage mounds of newgrange, knowth and dowth were built around 3200 bc 1, and the huge investment in labour and technical expertise reflects the importance of this particular site to the neolithic builders. Things to do near boyne valley activities day tours on tripadvisor. The boyne valley is at once irelands ancient capital and its most sacred and. The valley surrounding the boyne river is easily one of the most historyladen pieces of land on an island replete with historic sites. Ancient origins articles related to boyne valley in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends. The boyne valley is situated in the east of ireland. Megalithic passage tombs of newgrange and knowth are located in the present day county of meath on the east coast of ireland. It is at once irelands ancient capital and its most sacred and mythical landscape. Newgrange is a 5,200 year old passage tomb located in the boyne valley in ireland s ancient east.
It passes through the ancient town of trim, trim castle, the hill of tara the ancient capital of the high king of ireland, navan, the hill of slane, bru na boinne a complex of megalithic monuments, mellifont abbey, and the medieval town of drogheda. Irelands ancient east is a very exciting project focusing on four heritage themes. Jan 19, 2018 the boyne valley is home to ireland s most sacred ancient monuments. Boyne valley tours newgrange, tara, mellifont abbey, slane.
Practical info for a day trip to the boyne valley with kids. The boyne valley is situated in the east of ireland and only 20 minutes outside dublin city. Although practically on the doorstep of dublin, boyne valley is a place where rolling hills are topped with prehistoric tombs, where medieval ruins dot the river banks, and where a. The mixture of heritage, history, magic and myth combined with allot of attraction and activities in the area make the boyne valley one of ireland s most iconic and visited tourist destinations. The bend of the boyne had a pivotal role to play in irish history and this is evident in. It is an exceptionally grand passage tomb built during the neolithic period, around 3200 bc, making it older than stonehenge and the egyptian pyramids. Sailing from new york, she set out to determine the condition of the irish poor and discover why so many were emigrating to her home country. Boyne valley tours county meath 2020 all you need to know. We do everything from white water rafting to kayaking to medieval river tours and archery. Boyne valley historical society welcome to the boyne valley. Boyne valley tours private day tour to the boyne valley in ireland s ancient east. Boyne valley scenic drive, route map and guide, co. Newgrange and the bend of the boyne irish rural landscapes. It is a rural community with the small townships of nagoorin, ubobo, builyan and many peaks dotted along the boyne river, which is the lifeblood of the valley.