Dublin and Brú na Bóinne

Yes, it is wet in Ireland! But the off-and-on rain didn’t slow us down.

We spent yesterday, our first day in the country, walking around Dublin, visiting its castle and gardens, and just trying to stay awake until a decent bedtime.

Today we took a day tour to the Neolithic sites of Knowth and Newgrange, in the Boyne Valley, aka Brú na Bóinne. These archaeological sites are ceremonial passage tombs which were built around 3200 BC—older than the pyramids of Egypt.

The tomb entrances of each aligned with the sun on either the winter solstice (Newgrange) or the equinox (Knowth).

We also visited the Hill of Tara, which started as a tomb site, but later came into use as a coronation place of Ireland’s pre-Christian kings.

Dublin is a lively city, with several pedestrian boulevards full of people and live-music pubs. The river that divides the city has a pleasant promenade and scenic bridges.Read more