We managed to book a visit to Newgrange tomorrow morning to visit the inside of these 5000-year-old Neolithic graves before we catch the ferry back to Cherbourg.  At the start of the holiday 4 weeks ago we were too late and only saw the outside. Close to the Visitor Center we found a parking area at a small chapel. Several other campers are also here hoping to see the circular stone graves.

On the way south we first stopped at Monasterboice. This site was a monastery started in 923. Not much is left over except the tall round tower in which the monks stored their manuscripts and fled if attacked. The site is well known for its large stone crosses carved with biblical stories.

Near to Drogheda, we visited the site of the Battle of the Boyne. It was here in 1690 that the protestant English King William III (from Dutch origin) won the battle against the disposed Catholic English King James II (his father in Law) who fled back to France where he found refuge with Lois XIV the King of France who was also chased out of Holland in 1673 by Stadhouder Willem III. Strange things happen in Royal Families.

We then visited the neighboring town of Drogheda where we saw the shriveled head of St. Oliver Plunkett in the town church. He was falsely accused of treason in London and hanged (1681). He was bishop of this town.

The visit to the neolithic burial sites the next morning was again overwhelming. This time we saw both sets of excavated and reconstructed large and small burial mounts. We first visited Knowth burial site. Here the tunnel is closed to visitors but walking around the site is interesting enough. We saw lots of rock cravings. More than in Newgrange. And the guide is very knowledgeable about the area. After this we went to Newgrange and here we were allowed to enter the mount through the narrow original tunnel. Many of the large wall stones were carved with geometric figures. In the middle is a large cross shaped chamber with large stone dish in each arm. At the winter solstice the sunlight shines all the way through to the central burial chamber. DNA analysis of the bone remains found here suggests a connection with Turkey region. It also suggested the father and mother of one of the deceased were brother and sister. Dynasty protection?

The sun was shining so we had great views from the grave mounts.

In the afternoon we simply drove to Dublin and waited for the ferry to depart at 18:10.