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Ancient-East-Map

FailteIreland.ie, the web site of Ireland’s official tourism development bureau, now promotes “Ireland’s Ancient East” as a tourist destination. They hope to duplicate the success they had in the west with the “Wild Atlantic Way” concept. It is likely that they will succeed, since Ireland’s Ancient East has amazing sites to visit and wonderful stories to tell. In this post we’ll visit three of them: The massive Neolithic monument of Newgrange, the historic and legendary Hill of Tara, and the magical valley of Glendalough.

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Newgrange

With good planning and an early start, a visitor could combine Newgrange with Tara into one day trip.  A couple hours at each are enough for the casual visitor to take them in.

From the Newgrange visitors center, visitors are assigned to tour groups and are taken by bus to the site itself. This photo was taken from the bus as we approached. Newgrange appears first as a massive mound in the distance, behind fields of grazing sheep.

From the Newgrange visitors center, visitors are assigned to tour groups and are taken by bus to the site itself. This photo was taken from the bus as we approached. Newgrange appears first as a massive mound in the distance, behind fields of grazing sheep.

Gradually, details begin to emerge.

Gradually, details begin to emerge.

It becomes apparent that Newgrange is much more than a pile of dirt.

It becomes apparent that Newgrange is much more than a pile of dirt.

Your tour guide will tell you what is known and what is speculated about how and why this Neolithic structure was constructed about 5,000 years ago.

Our tour guide filled us in on what is known and what is speculated about how and why this Neolithic structure was constructed about 5,000 years ago.

It is thought to have had a religious significance, but that story is lost to time. This elaborate, complex monument predates England's Stonehenge and Egypt's pyramids.

It is thought to have had a religious significance, but that story is lost to time. This elaborate, complex monument predates England’s Stonehenge and Egypt’s pyramids.

Then the guide will give you a flashlight and take you through this entrance behind the huge, spiral-etched stones. You will follow a long, narrow, irregular passage to the famous chamber deep inside, where every year, at sunrise on the winter solstice, and only on that day, a beam of light passes through the rectangular opening over the entrance, and illuminates the altar at the center of the mound.

The guide handed out flashlights and took us through this entrance behind huge, spiral-etched stones. We followed a long, dark, narrow, irregular passage. Every year, at sunrise on the winter solstice, and only on that day, a beam of light passes through the rectangular opening over the entrance, and illuminates the altar in the chamber at the center of the mound.

I emerged with a sense of awe and wonder, privileged to have visited the chamber. As you might imagine, to be inside on the morning of the winter solstice would be the ultimate privilege. Reservations for that moment on that day are made years in advance.

I emerged with a sense of awe and wonder, privileged to have visited the chamber. As you might imagine, to be inside on the morning of the winter solstice would be the ultimate privilege. Only a handful of people get to witness that moment, and they are chosen by lottery.

After the tour, visitors are given time to wander the grounds, touch the ancient standing stones, and soak it all in.

After the tour, visitors are given time to wander the grounds, touch the ancient standing stones, and soak it all in.

To visit Newgrance is to gain a much deeper appreciation of the depth and breadth of Irish contributions to civilization. Here, Sarah studies the stones.

To visit Newgrance is to gain a much deeper appreciation of the depth and breadth of Irish contributions to civilization. Here, Sarah communes with the stones.

The Hill of Tara

While some structures on the Hill of Tara date from the time of Newgrange, its continuing use through the intervening centuries has caused its history to be better documented than that of Newgrange, so more is known about it.

The site itself appears to have been selected for it's commanding views of the countryside.

The site itself appears to have been selected for its commanding views of the countryside.

St. Patrick's, an early 19th century church and graveyard, are the first things visitors encounter when entering the hill complex.

St. Patrick’s early 19th century church and graveyard are the first things visitors encounter when entering the hill complex.

At first, it appears that there is not much at all on the hill, but a map of the site will reveal that these rolling hills are the remains of ring forts and enclosures of various kinds.

At first, it appears that there is not much at all on the hill, but a map of the site reveals that these rolling hills are the remains of ring forts and ceremonial enclosures of various kinds.

In the middle one ring is this standing stone, believed to be the Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny) at which the High Kings of Ireland were crowned. According to legend, the stone would scream if a series of challenges were met by the would-be king. At his touch the stone would let out a screech that could be heard all over Ireland.

In the middle of one ring is this standing stone, believed to be the Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny) at which the High Kings of Ireland were crowned. According to legend, the stone would scream if a series of challenges were met by the would-be king. At his touch the stone would let out a screech that the legend says could be heard all over Ireland.

The small passage tomb built into a hill known as "The Mound of the Hostages" has been dated at 3,000-2,500 BC. Like Newgrange, but much smaller, the entrance is aligned to mark astronomical events.

The small passage tomb built into a hill known as “The Mound of the Hostages” has been dated at 3,000-2,500 BC. Like Newgrange, but much smaller, the entrance is aligned to mark astronomical events.

Whatever contents were once inside have long since decayed or have been removed. The remains of more than 40 individuals have been recovered from inside the mound and the tomb.

Whatever contents were once inside have long since decayed or have been removed. The remains of more than 40 individuals have been recovered from inside the mound and the tomb.

These children almost appear to be dancing to an ancient Celtic tune atop the Mound of the Hostages.

These children almost appear to be dancing to an ancient Celtic tune atop the Mound of the Hostages.

In 1843, Ireland's Great Emancipator and Liberator, Daniel O'Connell hosted a peaceful political demonstration on the Hill of Tara in favour of repeal of the repressive Act of Union. This rally drew over 750,000 people to this spot.

In 1843, Ireland’s Great Emancipator, Daniel O’Connell, hosted a peaceful political demonstration on the Hill of Tara to protest Britain’s repressive Act of Union. The rally drew over 750,000 people to this spot.

Families now use the Hill of Tara as a place to enjoy the outdoors, frolicking among the ancient stones.

Families now use the Hill of Tara as a place to enjoy the outdoors, frolicking among the ancient stones.

Ancient, twisted trees stand on the Hill of Tara. Legend has it that these are among Ireland's magical "fairy trees."

Old, twisted trees stand on the Hill of Tara. Legend has it that these are among Ireland’s magical “fairy trees.”

Some visitors tie little colorful ribbons to the branches of fairy trees, as an offering in hope that a wish will be granted.

Some visitors tie little colorful ribbons to the branches of the fairy trees, in the hope that a wish will be granted.

Tara indeed felt like a magical, mystical place to explore.

Tara indeed felt like a magical, mystical place to explore.

We watched the sun set behind the fairy trees before returning to Dublin.

We watched the sun set behind the fairy trees before returning to Dublin.

Glendalough

Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch in Irish) means “Valley of two lakes.” It is a glacial valley in County Wicklow. In this beautiful setting, St. Kevin founded an Early Medieval monastic settlement in the sixth century.

The valley itself is set high up in the Wicklow Mountains southwest of Dublin.

The valley is set high up in the Wicklow Mountains southwest of Dublin.

Boardwalks and paths invite visitors to explore the valley.

Boardwalks and paths invite visitors to explore the valley.

Despite the altitude, even in January, with leaves gone for the winter, much of the valley was covered in lush growth.

Despite the altitude, and even in January, with leaves gone for the winter, much of the valley was covered in lush growth.

The trees seemed ancient.

The trees seemed ancient.

rich green moss covers trees which seem to have fallen centuries ago.

Rich green moss covers trees which seem to have fallen centuries ago.

Many signs of the early Christian use of the valley remain.

Many signs of early Christian use of the valley remain.

Stone structures are set among the aging gravestones of those who once lived here.

Stone structures are set among the aging gravestones of those who once lived here.

Evocative ruins of St. Kevin's monastic settlement survive.

Evocative ruins of St. Kevin’s monastic settlement still survive.

A well-preserved round tower stands in the graveyard. These towers were used as a last defensive resort. The only entrance was high up the tower, and the ladder could be pulled inside.

A well-preserved round tower stands in the graveyard. These towers were used as a last defensive resort. The only entrance was high in the tower, and the ladder could be pulled up inside.

These are the remains of a chapel known as the Reefert Church.

These are the remains of a chapel known as the Reefert Church.

The largest structure in Glendalough is the Cathedral.

A cathedral is largest structure in Glendalough.

Gravestones line the walls of the cathedral, marking the graves of those buried below it.

Gravestones line the walls of the cathedral, marking the graves of those buried below it.

Each stone tells another cryptic story.

Each stone tells another cryptic story.

The stones are brief but fascinating glimpses into the lives of those they represent.

The stones are brief but fascinating glimpses into the lives of those they represent.

Here in the off-season, we were almost alone wandering in the valley and among the ruins.

Here in the off-season, we were almost alone wandering in the valley and among the ruins.

We hiked deep into the valley, to the site where St. Kevin lived in monastic isolation.

We hiked deep into the valley, to the site where St. Kevin lived in monastic isolation.

Sarah made the climb to the cell while I rested in the valley.

Sarah made the long climb to St. Kevin’s Cell while I followed a stream in the valley, taking pictures there.

We were happy to have had the chance to explore this magical place.

We were happy to have had the chance to explore this magical place.

In late January, 2015, we returned to the USA after six months in Europe. It is only now, months later, that we are finally finishing the story of the adventure. Thank you to all who accompanied us on the journey via this blog!

Charlie Sawyer & Sarah Robinson

Apalachicola, Florida, USA

Note: The photo above was taken by this guy. Thank you to all the fellow travelers who took pictures of Sarah and I together on this adventure!

Note: The photo above this one was taken by this guy. Thank you to all the fellow travelers who took pictures of Sarah and I together on this adventure!

Celtic Cross on the Hill of Tara.

Celtic Cross on the Hill of Tara.