Ireland - Boyne Valley

Trim Castle

This trip was a long time coming. Originally planned for May 2020, the pandemic had other ideas for us. When May of 2022 looked better, we simplified our trip planning and went for it. We kept the trip to three major destinations - Boyne Valley, The Burren, and the Dingle Peninsula - with plenty of time in each to explore. I'll break the blog posts up with one for each of the regions. 

The Boyne Valley is only an hour north of Dublin and has much to offer. Of particular interest for us in this area were the Megalithic and early Christian ruins. The Megalithic sites, like Newgrange, date back 5000 or more years. The early Christian sites go back to at least the 10th century. For all of us it was our first trip to anywhere in Europe, so seeing these ancient sites was fascinating. 

Knowth Megalithic Passage Tombs at Newgrange

We love rock art!

Newgrange Megalithic passage tomb

The entrance to Newgrange

Monasterboice High Cross and Round Tower

Old Melifont Abbey

A field of native wildflowers at the Battle of the Boyne

Fourknocks Megalithic Passage Tomb

Fourknocks Megalithic Passage Tomb

Fourknocks Megalithic Passage Tomb

Hill of Tara

Loughcrew Megalithic Passage Tomb

Rock art at Loughcrew

Hiking to Carrowkeel Passage Tombs

Carrowkeel Passage Tombs

View from Carrowkeel

Carrowkeel Passage Tombs

Carrowkeel Passage Tombs

Clonmacnoise Monastery

Clonmacnoise Monastery

Clonmacnoise Monastery

Clonmacnoise Monastery

Clonmacnoise Monastery

Portumna Castle