Laytown Things to Do

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We visited the Newgrange grave site, being one of 3 sites forming the Brú na Bóinne (Palace of the Boyne).

It was built in around 3200 BC and the grave was undiscovered until 1699. On the winter solstice, the sun shines in and lights up the chamber.

The construction skills displayed by the builders are amazing - apparently they did not have metal tools or the wheel at that time. They were able to use stones layered on each other to create a conical chamber 20ft (6m) high. It has remained 100% waterproof for 5,000 years - yes, in Ireland!

You will see various standing stones scattered around the site, outside the main building.

Access is only through the visitor centre, as they have to control entry in general and so as to restrict numbers. Its small inside and the entrance passage is very narrow. You take a bus for the short trip from the centre to the site itself.

It is highly recommended - older than Stonehenge and the pyramids at Giza.