| Megalithic Tombs, Loughcrew, Co Meath
Sited on the highest hilltops in Co Meath, these passage tombs were built more than 4000 years ago by Neolithic (New Stone Age) societies, Ireland's first farmers. |
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The passage leads from the entrance to the burial chamber. Although tombs, these monuments probably also acted as a tribal focal point, a territorial marker and as a site for rituals based on the sun and other heavenly bodies. On Equinox days (March 21st and Sept 21st, sunlight enters the tomb and illuminates a series of radial pattern carvings. |
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The tower of Loyd stands in a six-acre public park, two miles north-west of Kells. The tower is over 100ft high with a view over five counties. It was built in 1791 by the local landlords, the Headfort family, to commemorate Lord Bective, and to provide work at the time of a local famine. Within the park is also the Paupers' Graveyard, of which the victims of the aftermath of the Great Famine are interred. |
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St Kieran's Well This is one of the most beautiful Holy Wells in Ireland. St Kieran died in 770 A.D. and a story is told how three cooked fish appear in the well at midnight on the first Saturday of August. They swim out of the rocks and cross each other before disappearing again for another year. This is a true story if you believe it. |
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Grove Gardens Grove Gardens is a bird sanctuary and mini zoo set in the midst of delightful gardens. Covering four acres, the gardens feature one of Europe's largest collections of clematis and climbing roses. It's ideal for children as it allows for "close encounters" with some of the inhabitants and also allows them to learn something about horticulture. (This will come up in a new window) |
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Riding lessons for adults and children |
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MT - Megalithic Tombs 10 miles from Kells. Take the Oldcastle road. Watch for signposts to the tombs. Be prepared to walk up the hill. Worth the view.
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