Treat someone to a memorable evening at
Slane Castle
Solstice Arts Centre!
Christmas Gift Vouchers available
Drama, Visual Arts, Music, Dance, Literature Solstice Arts Centre, Railway Street, Navan, Co. Meath Box Office: +353 46 909 2300 Website: www.solsticeartscentre.com
The reason it takes so long for a cosmic event of this magnitude to come around is because the procession of the equinoxes goes in a complete circle, moving at 0.01 degrees each year. It therefore takes 26,000 years to complete a full 360degree cycle. It is an extraordinary thought... Brú na Boinne is in fact the largest, and one of the most important, prehistoric sites in Europe, if not the world. The site covers 780 hectares and consists of a complex of Neolithic mounds, chamber tombs, standing stones and other prehistoric enclosures, the best known of which – in addition to Newgrange – are Knowth and Dowth. Dowth is the second oldest passage tomb, dating from around 2,500 BC. It shares a special solar celebration with Newgrange. During the winter solstice, the sunlight moves along the left side of the passage and down into the circular chamber, where it illuminates three large stones. Knowth is the largest of the three passage tombs. It consist of one large mound and 17 smaller satellite tombs, and dates back to between 2,500 and 2,000 BC. The main tomb consists of two passages, both independent of each other, that lead to cruciform burial chambers. Knowth differs from Newgrange and Dowth, in that most of the passage stones and kerbstones have been engraved and decorated. In fact, over 45% of all the engraved
megalithic stones in Ireland can be found inside Knowth. Visitors should note that Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth can only be visited by joining formal tours, which leave from the Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre, located on the south bank of the river, close to the village of Donore. The Boyne continues its course east, meandering across County Meath, and into County Louth where it runs through the medieval town of Drogheda, before entering the Irish Sea between Mornington (Meath) and Baltray (Louth). Drogheda – a fascinating historic town in itself – is celebrating its 600th anniversary this year. Up until 1412 two separate towns were located north and south of the Boyne. In that year, Robert Ball took a submission to King Henry IV. The King agreed, and Ball returned with a new charter unifying the two towns as Drogheda. The Battle of the Boyne was one of the most important in Irish history. Celebrated – erroneously in terms of timing many believe – by Ulster uionists on July 12th, the battle took place – between the forces of rinal claimants to the English, Scottish and Irish thrones, the Protestant King William of Orange and the Catholic King James – to the west of Drogheda. There is now a visitor centre at Oldbridge around which most of the fighting took place and various walking trails that take you to positions of note in a cathartic battle that in so many ways shaped subsequent Irish history.
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Highlanes Gallery, Laurence Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
T. + 353 (0)41 980 3311 W. www.highlanes.ie E.info@highlanes.ie
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