Field Trips

Newgrange and the Boyne Valley

Departs: Nassau Street, Dublin 09:00, Sunday 7 November 2010

Returns: to Nassau Street 17:00, via Guinness Hop Store 16:30

Number of places: 48

The coach trip to the Boyne Valley will be guided by archaeologist Prof. George Eoghan who excavated in the area from 1962 and geologist Prof. George Sevastopulo, who has recently worked on the provenance of the stones used in construction. Ms Claire Tuffy will guide us through the visit to one of the site, Newgrange. The coach will return to Dublin for 17:00, via the Guinness Hop Store; if anyone would like to get off there, they are welcome!

The Boyne Valley

The Boyne Valley contains a wealth of Neolithic archaeological monuments are designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The trip by coach will travel from Dublin, tour the valley and visit two of the monuments, Newgrange and Knowth and also the Brú na Boinne interpretive centre.

Newgrange

Newgrange is a kidney shaped mound of over one acre, retained at the base by 97 kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art. The 19 metre long inner passage leads to a cruciform chamber with a corbelled roof. The passage is oriented so that at dawn on the Winter Solstice sunlight shines through the roofbox over the entrance, down the passage to illuminate the chamber. We will be able to enter the passage with a local guide.

Knowth

The Great Mound at Knowth is similar in size to Newgrange and was built over 5000 years ago, probably after the construction of Newgrange. It has two passages with entrances on opposite sides, the western passage is 34 metres long and the eastern passage is 40 metres long, ending with a cruciform chamber. It is surrounded by 18 smaller satellite mounds. Knowth has many engraved kerbstones including a lunar map and a calendar.