Boyne Valley and Beyond

Today our drive took us Northeast of Dublin into the Boyne Valley. It is an area rich in archaeological remains. We visited Newgrange which is the best known of three Irish passage tombs that date back to the Neolithic or New Stone Age. Unfortunately the 5,000 year old entrance into the tomb is narrow and wheelchairs cannot pass through. After watching a short film and a visit to the museum, we entered through an enlarged passage to an exact replica of the tomb chamber. We were able to witness what it would have been like to be present on the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) nearly five thousand years ago. As the sun rises it passes through an opening in the roof box and lights the chamber for eighteen minutes. The art on the stones reveals three intertwined spirals indicating possible knowledge of the Godhead.

From Newgrange, we traveled to the seaside village of Malahide for a lunch stop. We dined in Gibney’s Pub and enjoyed a half pint of diet coke. Kelly liked her fried cod much better today. Jenny and Mom had one of the safest things on the menu—baked potatoes with toppings of your choice.

Then we tried to stay awake for a long drive up the coastline through different small communities. I think Mom slept the most. We stopped in Coliemore bay, a fishing village, to admire Ireland Eye, a small island in Dublin Bay. From Howth Head, a lookout point, we could see Bailey lighthouse. Mom loved the legends and myths that were shared along the drive. HAHAHA!


Coming back into Dublin, we drove through Phoenix Park which was formed in 1662 and encompasses 2,000 acres of land. The cross shown below is the sight at which Po pe John Paul II spoke to nearly one million people in 1979. We caught a glimpse of the former President of Ireland Mary Robinson’s home. A candle is lit in the window of her home welcoming all Irish back to their homeland. We are off in a few minutes for a night on the town. Temple Bar street is our destination in hopes of hearing some Irish folk music.