In County Meath is Brú na Bóinne, or the Palace of the Boyne or Mansion of the Boyne or Boyne valley tombs. It contains one of the world's most important prehistoric landscapes dating from the Neolithic period, including the large Megalithic passage graves of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth as well as some 90 additional monuments.
We went to Knowth, which has passage tombs from over 5,000 years ago, and over 200 decorated stones.
This is the Eastern Passage through the mound at Knowth.
We also went to Dowth. It originally had 115 kerbstones which are the stones of a stone ring.
The Hill of Tara, known as Temair in gaeilge, was once the ancient seat of power in Ireland – 142 kings are said to have reigned there in prehistoric and historic times. In ancient Irish religion and mythology Temair was the sacred place of dwelling for the gods, and was the entrance to the otherworld. Our leader reads us this poem:
TARA -- The Rock of Destiny
Earth Works circle up
like great waves of land
made visible
Pushing power into the Center
Rising into an ancient eternal rock.
The hand of the King
On the Rock of Destiny
Receiving the Land's Force
Demanding his Commitment
His hand transmitting
His Heart's Pledge
Back through the stone,
through the waves
out to every rising horizon
A Pledge to the People
A Sacred Vow to the Land.
The Destiny of the Man
The Destiny of the Land
Now joined for good . . . or ill.