In Ireland, history is everywhere. But in some places, there is an especially strong connection with the past. Here are IrishCentral's choices for the top ten historical sites in Ireland.
At Newgrange, County Meath, the wall of the passage tomb decorated with a Celtic spiral. Dating back to 3200 B.C.
the passage tomb at Newgrange is older than the pyramids in Egypt and is officially a UNESCO World Heritage site. Newgrange is a large passage mound, spread over an acre and surrounded by 97 uniquely carved kerbstones. The cremated remains of the dead were buried in large stone basins under the mound in a chamber accessible by a narrow passage.
At dawn on December 21, the shortest day of the year, sunlight shines directly into the tomb's central chamber. It is believed that this was an ancient way of measuring the passage of time, like a calendar for the ancient farmers, or that the light has some religious significance for those in the afterlife. Newgrange is part of the Brú na Boinne complex, which includes similar tombs at Knowth and Dowth.
Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! The Hill of Tara, County Meath. The Hill of Tara is also located near the River Boyne in Meath. It is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin and contains several ancient monuments.
According to tradition, it was the seat of the High King of Ireland (Árd Rí na hÉireann). The oldest archaeological site at Tara is the Mound of Hos.
