Day 33: The Boyne Valley

One of the fairly famous landmarks in Ireland that wasn't covered by my tour was visiting the neolithic passage tomb at Newgrange. It predates the pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge, and is one of the oldest constructed buildings still standing. I signed up for a day tour of the Boyne Valley that went to Newgrange, but before going there it stopped by the Hill of Tara. The Hill of Tara is the ancient seat of the High King of Ireland and is thought to have been the political center of Ireland up until the 12th century and was where 142 kings were crowned. These days it's just a series of grassy slopes and hills around an old church, but the views on all sides are excellent, and its said on clear days you can see half the counties of Ireland from the top.

One point of interest on the slope of the hill is a fairy tree. It's an old hawthorn tree that is rumored to be inhabited by fairies, and visitors tie pieces of fabric, bright yarn, bells, and other random bits to the branches in order to win favour from the fae.

Next it was onto Newgrange. Because Newgrange is so old nobody knows for sure exactly what it was used for. It is built so that on the winter solstice the entrance will be aligned with the rising sun, so that for that one brief period a shaft of sunlight will creep along the tunnel all the way to the central chamber. There were also some human remains found in the chambers, but whether the mound was used for funerals, or as a connection between the sun and the spirits of the dead, or was simply a central site for their pagan solstice celebrations is unknown.