History...Prehistory...

Although, technically...

Wednesday, we left Dublin.  We headed to the Ards Peninsula, NW of Dublin, in Down county.  It's where John's family comes from, and we wanted to check it out.  But, along the way...

We stopped at Newgrange.  It was built 5200 years ago by Stone Age Irish farmers, making it older than the pyramids or Stonehenge.  Its a passage tomb, with unique art and characteristics.  Maybe not so unique; there are two other sites in the area; Knowth, and Dowth.  We visited Knowth just before Newgrange. 

The mounds "sit" on a circle of kerb stones, decorated with geometric patterns and swirls.  We see some of this in the Southwest.  But the difference here is that, unlike the Southwest, no images of humans or of animals appear in this art.  All of it is geometric, or swirling.

 This one has the appearance of a sundial.  Our guide told us that they have experimented with holding sticks in the center, to see if it is one.

 A view down the passage of Knowth.  We weren't allowed into the center of the tomb.

There was also a woodhenge in ancient times, which the archaeologists have rebuilt.

After Knowth, we headed over to Newgrange.  This tomb has been more reconstructed, although the interior is as it was 5200 years ago.  In all that time, the roof has never leaked.  Amazing construction.  We were allowed inside, but no photographs were allowed.  The passage opens into 3 chambers, arranged so that the passage and the chambers form a cross.  In each chamber, a basin was found, which held cremated remains.

The passage at Newgrange is aligned with the rising sun on the  days surrounding the winter solstice, (Dec 19-23) so that, as the sun rises, the absolutely dark chamber is illuminated.  They simulate that as part of the tour; its fascinating.  There is actually a lottery to be able to be in the chamber during that time of year.  We did not apply.

More rock art, from Newgrange, this time.  (Newgrange gets its name from Cisticercian monks, who were given the mound and the land around it.  "Grange" means farm, and this was their New Farm.)

This stone is at the entrance of Newgrange, and the triple swirl to the left is repeated inside, in one of the chambers.  It has become the symbol of the sites. 

And, sheep.  There are sheep everywhere in Ireland, as you will see if you keep reading these pages!

We then headed further north, into Down county.  We wanted to visit Down Cathedral, in the city of Downpatrick.   Downpatrick has been an important site since ancient times, and St Patrick is said to have visited here.  He is also believed to be buried in the cemetery there; at least a stone has been there for many, many years. 

 St Patrick's Cross, reinstalled in 2018

An older cross on the grounds.

And a view to the south of the cathedral.