Exploring Newgrange

Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth: Exploring the Majestic Passage Tombs of Ancient Ireland by Liam Mac Uistin. Older than the Egyptian pyramids, older than Stonehenge, for 5,000 years the ancient megalithic tomb at Newgrange in County Meath has housed the remains of Stone Age aristocracy, sheltering the spirits of the long dead from the outside world. This book explores the creation, building and discovery of Newgrange.

Why did these people spend years building this tomb? How did they move huge boulders miles across hilly country and erect them at the site, without the aid of machinery? Modern archaeological techniques have revealed much about the lives of our Stone Age ancestors, but Newgrange still retains many of its secrets. Exploring Newgrange uncovers, in words and illustrations, the extent, and limitations, of our knowledge of this world-famous site.

Liam Mac Uistin is a well-known author and playwright. His versions of ancient Irish stories and legends have been published in the Irish language. His plays for stage, television and radio have been produced in many European countries and in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. His stage plays have been produced at the Abbey and Peacock theatres in Dublin. His stories and plays have received many literary awards. Liam Mac Uistin is the author of The Tain, (O'Brien Press) a hugely popular book for the young reader on this great Celtic epic. He lives in Dublin with his family.

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Review

Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth: Exploring the Majestic Passage Tombs of Ancient Ireland by Liam Mac Uistin provides a clear and approachable introduction to Newgrange and the wider Brú na Bóinne passage tomb complex, including Knowth and Dowth. Written for a general audience, the book is easy to read and well structured, making it particularly suitable for those encountering these monuments for the first time.

The book is well illustrated throughout, with maps, reconstruction drawings, and photographs that help explain how the monuments were built, how they may have looked in the past, and how they fit into the landscape of the Boyne Valley. At 111 pages, it is not intended as a detailed academic study, but rather as an accessible overview that presents the key ideas, discoveries, and ongoing questions surrounding these remarkable sites.

While the sleeve notes describe Newgrange as “an amazing Stone Age place of mystery and spiritual worship”, the book itself adopts a more encyclopaedic style. This clear, factual approach will appeal to readers who want a solid grounding in the archaeology and history of Newgrange before exploring more specialist or academic works.

Boyne Valley Private Day Tour

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