Bru na Boinne Ireland - By: Stuart Hely

What is it about Bru na Boinne that makes it so special... so much so that it's one of the "must sees" of Ireland?

The place contains passage graves, standing stones, henges and other features. It's a World Heritage site, and artcles says it contains some of the world's most historically important Neoltic passage graves, most notably Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth.

OK... but... what is it about the site that "takes your breath away"? I suppose it's because it's origins are lost in Ireland's misty ancient history. Newgrange is mentioned in several Celtic sagas.

A thousand years older than Stonehenge in England, it is a powerful and evocative testament to the mind-boggling achievements of prehistoric humans.... There's an additional reason it's so special... because it shows us what we can achieve. I mean, if early peoples could do THAT... just think what we can do.

To a certain extent, you need to have a fascination with ancient monuments and standing stones. If you do, then undoubtedly you will enjoy Bru na Boinne. The monuments at this location seem to have always been connected with "magic". They seem tied to astromony... in this case mostly the Winter Solstice.

Through the centuries, they were woven into myths and folklore and became regarded as the cemetary of the High-Kings of Tara and Ireland.

The main monuments here are Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth.

Newgrange is a passage tomb, but that sounds so... mundane. It is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world. It consists of a mound which is 250 feet (76 meters) across and 40 feet (12 meters) high. What makes it visually so impressive is that the front is faced with a wall of sparkling white quartz stones. Close up it is the art on the stones that will impress. The burial chamber inside has remained intact for 5,000 years.

Knowth is the largest of the passage graves here. Its large mound is impressive, but it lacks the spectacular white front of New Grange. There is, however, an impressive amount of megalithic art in this tomb.

Dowth is the oldest of these three, but it is the least attractive to tourists because it is less excavated. Its decorations are not as complicated, though it may once have been faced with quartz like Newgrange. Newgrange and Dowth have passages that allow light in during the Winter Solstice.

OK... a group of graves, right? NO.... a magical site... Irish Fairies aside.

Block out all of your fellow tourists and try to think of yourself taken 4000-5000 years back in time. You approach by boat on the River Boyne, via an ancient Irish landscape. There, high on a hill in the distance you see the sunlight reflecting off the white quartz and granite facade of a monument... something that is already ancient that you know very little about. Wouldn't that seem magical?

Even now, approaching the monuments in Bru na Boinne, you can feel the holiness of the site if you will just let yourself. That's the magic of it... And THAT is why it's so special.

About the Author

This travel tip is brought to you by Stuart Hely of BookCentralCoast.com.au, the specialists in NSW Central Coast accommodation including Terrigal accommodation and Terrigal Hinterland accommodation. Check us out for the best NSW Central Coast accommodation deals on hotels, resorts, apartments and holiday houses.

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