Boyne Valley Attractions
On the east coast of Ireland, near the town of Drogheda, between Belfast and Dublin, the River Boyne describes a wide bend southward, beginning at Slane, and then turns north again. Here there is a large pre-Christian burial ground. The royal tombs, some 4,500 years old, lie southeast of Slane - at Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth. All three are National Monuments.
From late April, 1997, all visitors must begin their visit at the Visitor Center if they want to visit Newgrange and Knowth. There will be no direct access to those monuments.
From late April, 1997, all visitors must begin their visit at the Visitor Center if they want to visit Newgrange and Knowth. There will be no direct access to those monuments.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Hours
April 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
May 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 |
June 1 to September 15
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
September 16 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 |
October 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
November 1 to February 28
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Discounts for groups, seniors, children and families. Last admission 45 minutes before closing. Last tour of monuments one and a half hour before closing.
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Related Attractions
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Newgrange
A retaining wall surrounds the mound which is Newgrange, the largest tomb in the Boyne Valley. It is designed to allow sunshine into the main chamber on the winter solstice.
Beauparc House (Castle Dexter)
Up the Boyne Valley are Beauparc House (1750) and, facing it, the picturesque ruins of Castle Dexter.
Dowth Knowth
The tombs at Dowth and Knowth are smaller than those at Newgrange. Each contains two passage graves beneath the mound. Dowth can be entered - though with difficulty - through a 27ft/8m long passage. Excavations are still in progress.
In the immediate vicinity of the principal tomb are numerous smaller tombs, standing stones and tumuli.
Knowth was a focal point for more than 4,000 years. It has the largest collection of passage tomb art in western Europe.
In the immediate vicinity of the principal tomb are numerous smaller tombs, standing stones and tumuli.
Knowth was a focal point for more than 4,000 years. It has the largest collection of passage tomb art in western Europe.
Hours
March 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
May 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 |
June 1 to September 14
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
September 15 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 |
October 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
November 1 to February 28
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Slane Castle
About 1.25mi/2km to the west of Slane is Slane Castle, a fine early 19th C. neo-Gothic mansion. Restoration of the interior, extensively damaged by fire, is in progress, and there are palns to resume the open-air rock concerts which for many years took place in the grounds, where can be seen the ruins of a Gothic church.
Hours
May 18 to August 7
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
August 28 to September 4
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Slane Hill
To the north of Slane rises Slane Hill (492ft/150m), where in 433 St Patrick is believed to have proclaimed the victory of Christianity in Ireland by lighting the Paschal fire in defiance of a royal prohibition. On the hill are the ruins of a Franciscan friary (National Monument), with a 16th C. church and conventual buildings laid out round a cloister (rooms with fireplaces, alcoves and aumbry).
