Both Tara and Newgrange have Neolithic passage tombs, which are mounded earthen works with a rock-walled passage leading from an entrance to a burial or ceremonial chamber within. Both passage tombs are positioned with a precise angle towards the sun such that at certain times of year the beam of sunlight that shines through the opening lines up perfectly with the angle of the tunnel and lights up the inner chamber.
Both tombs date from around 3200 BC, making them older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
Hill of Tara
Tara is a hill and ancient ceremonial site a two-hour drive from Dublin. According to legend, it was the seat of the Kings of Ireland.
The passage tomb at Tara is called the Mound of the Hostages. The alignment of the passage allows for the rising sun to shine down the passageway to the inner chamber only two times of the year:
- Samhain, at the beginning of November, halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.
- Imbolc, at the beginning of February, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
The Lia Fáil or “Stone of Destiny” is believed to be the place where the kings where crowned.
Newgrange
The passage tomb of Newgrange is much larger than the Mound of the Hostages on Tara. The Newgrange tomb incorporates a small opening above the entrance to focus the suns rays as they enter the passage. The passage is fully illuminated just once a year, at the Winter Solstice.
Dublin 2019 