Slane, Dowth and more...
Here are some other sites which may interest the visitor. Some sites are open to the public, others are not. If you wish to take a tour with us then it is necessary to contact us to collaborate on possabilities.
Trim Castle, Dowth passage tomb, St. Johns Well at Warrenstown, near Dunsany,
Slane Hill church & monastery, Donaghmore round tower,
Monasterboice high crosses & round tower, Loughcrew passage tombs
TRIM CASTLE
Trim Castle, as we see it today, was built by Hugh de Lacy, a Norman invader, in the mid 12th century, on the site of an earlier wooden fortress. The 20 sided tower is of an unusual cruciform shape. Access and guided tours are arranged through the OPW - www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/TrimCastle/
Looking over the Porchfield to the Norman Castle and Yellow Steeple. The Porchfield was three acres of farmland cultivated in the medieval times and nowadays is a pleasant stroll beside the River Boyne (just visible at the bottom of the photo). An annual Haymaking Festival takes place here in mid-June.
DOWTH PASSAGE TOMB
There are three large passage tombs overlooking the river Boyne - Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. Newgrange and Knowth are only accessible via the Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre, near Donore. Dowth is treated differently and there is no official guide at the site.
It was excavated in the early 1800's and badly damaged. It is still a magical site and open to the public to stroll around and imbibe some of the Dowth mystery, for Dowth is said to come from the word for 'darkness'. The mythology attached to this place is very special, ambition, lust and greed...
Over 5000 years old, the passage tomb has two passageways and chambers, also a souterrain. Not generally accessible to the public, one is aligned to Midwinter sunset - Newgrange is aligned to the sunrise. Contact us to find out more...
Dowth and the entrance to the dark underworld
Dowth kerb stone emerging from the nettles displaying some neolithic art work
Inner sanctum of Dowth South
ST. JOHN'S WELL, WARRENSTOWN
Find peace and serenity under the beautiful trees of St. John's Well.
This is situated near Dunsany, in the area of Dunshaughlin. It is not signposted off the road, so please contact us for further details.
SLANE HILL - RUINS OF ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH & FRANCISCAN MONASTERY
Lighting a fire in Ireland once brought with it control and dominion over the people. St. Patrick recognised this and so he broke the rulership of the king by a simple but symbolic act.
The High King on Tara was meant to bring the first flame to the land in early Spring. The fertility and nurturing of the land lay in his remit, for he had married Sovereignty, the Goddess of the Land, at his inauguration. Patrick took his opportunity - lit the fire on Hill of Slane first --- and the slow yet inevitable demise of the Kings of Ireland followed.
DONAGHMORE ROUND TOWER
There are several round towers in the Meath and Louth area - this one has unusual attributes and the graveyard a terrific atmosphere. It is just off the N51, the main road from Navan to Slane.
MONASTERBOICE – ROUND TOWER & HIGH CROSSES
You will either love this place, or love this place... yes, you will definitely love it here...
There is food for the mind with several different High Crosses and food for the soul.
Monasterboice is in Louth, in easy reach of Drogheda.
Dextera Dei with nimbus of power, Muirdeachs high cross Monasterboice
Cemetery at Monasterboice with early christian enclosure showing up as a shadow in the field
Sun set at Muirdeachs high cross Monasterboice
The West High Cross and Church Monasterboice
Monasterboice 10thC round tower
Muirdeachs Cross west face, Monasterboice
Detail from Monasterboice high cross
LOUGHCREW - LARGEST COMPLEX OF PASSAGE TOMBS IN IRELAND
If you were carrying a load of heavy rocks around in your apron and happened to be flying over Loughcrew you too would probably drop them and form these cairns. Well that's what local legend says happened. Of course, we know differently! A Goddess of the Land is not so clumsy....
Cairn T is open to the public in Summer - and by private arrangement in the winter - contact us for details.
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Book on-line or call usMartin Dier - TaraHeritage@iolfree.ie 00 353 (0)86 3375837Nora Judge - Nora@TaraCelebrations.org 00 353 (0)85 1261154 |
Hidden Gems
A self drive tour
visiting Hill of Tara, Holy Wells and Trim
(this route is offered starting at Newgrange Lodge, Donore)
we meet you at the 3 stops for a guided Tour
1. HolyWell, Tara -
2. St. John's Well, Warrenstown -
3. St. John's Hospital & St. Peter & St. Paul's Cathedral (ruin), Trim
Page last updated: 21st Aug 2010
