ANCIENT TOMBS OF NEWGRANGE AND KNOWTH

The weather for the 4 days we spent in Clogherhead on the coast of the Irish Sea was cold, wet and dreary. We splashed about on the deserted beach in our gumboots, stomping in pools like naughty children. Wynsdale House, hosted by Loretta Derby [041-9889767] is a grand place to stay. The rooms are palatial, with brocade drapes over the bay windows, and enormous king size bed and flat screen TV. Access to the large kitchen was a boon, always a treat when staying in B&Bs.

On David's afternoon off the weather cleared a little and we headed for the ancient monuments scattered over the Valley of the river Boyne. Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth are the largest of many passage graves in the area, known as the Cradle of Irish civilisation. Unfortunately the tour to Newgrange [the best known] was full, so we had no option but to visit Knowth. The tomb looks like a large upturned soup bowl, surrounded by 18 smaller ones.


Around the perimeter are 36 kerbstones which have been decorated with geometric and spiral carved patterns.

They look reminiscent of ancient Egypt, or is it Extra-terrestial influence? Since the 1960's the site has been completely excavated, deconstructed and reconstructed. It was used as a burial site by Neolithic rulers in 3000BC, but has been used by many different civilisations since, as evidenced by the many layers of artefacts found. On the morning of the summer solstice, the rising sun is supposed to shine down the narrow passage and directly into the tomb, as it does at the nearby, and more famous, tomb of Newgrange. Unfortunately this has never been demonstrated at Knowth, because a large Victorian house obscures the path of the sun at that time. The house was built before the tomb was discovered!
This is a very special site and one feels a powerful energy here.

On the way back we drove around Drogheda looking for a KFC to indulge a silly impulse, and came across this wonderful floral display on a traffic island!