# Ancient Ireland: Newgrange, Monasteries and Megaliths

> Ancient Ireland: Newgrange, Monasteries and Megaliths: culture idea in Ireland’s Ancient East. Passage tombs older than the pyramids, monastic cities and high crosses. Where to see ancient Ireland.

- Page: https://ireland360.ie/things-to-do/ancient-ireland-newgrange-monasteries-megaliths
- Section: [Things to Do](https://ireland360.ie/things-to-do)
- Last updated: 2026-10-21

## Key facts

- **Category:** Culture
- **County:** Meath
- **Province:** Leinster
- **Destination:** Ireland’s Ancient East

## Details

Ireland’s history goes back over 5,000 years, and much of it is still standing. Many of the best sites are in Ireland’s Ancient East, within two hours of Dublin.

### Neolithic Ireland

**Brú na Bóinne** (Newgrange and Knowth) in the Boyne Valley is older than Stonehenge and the pyramids. At the winter solstice, sunlight floods the chamber. Entry is by guided tour from the visitor centre only. The **Loughcrew** cairns are quieter and on hilltops. In the west, **Carrowmore** in Sligo and the **Céide Fields** in Mayo show how early farmers lived.

### Royal sites

The **Hill of Tara** was the seat of the High Kings. It’s free and open all year.

### Monastic Ireland

**Glendalough** in Wicklow and **Clonmacnoise** on the Shannon were great monastic cities, with round towers and high crosses. The **Rock of Cashel** rises dramatically over the Tipperary plain. **Jerpoint Abbey** in Kilkenny has some of the finest medieval carvings in Ireland. **Skellig Michael**, off Kerry, is the most remote and the most spectacular of all.

No car? Newgrange, Glendalough, and Cashel are all on day tours from Dublin, and boat trips run to Clonmacnoise from Athlone.

## Recommended tours and attractions

- [From Dublin: Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough & Kilkenny Tour](https://ireland360.ie/tours/from-dublin-wicklow-mountains-glendalough-kilkenny-tour) (Co. Dublin)
- [Dublin: Book of Kells, Dublin Castle and Christ Church Tour](https://ireland360.ie/tours/dublin-book-of-kells-dublin-castle-and-christ-church-tour) (Co. Dublin)
- [Dublin: Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel & Cahir Castle](https://ireland360.ie/tours/dublin-blarney-castle-rock-of-cashel-cahir-castle) (Co. Dublin)
- [Newgrange & Boyne Valley](https://ireland360.ie/tours/newgrange-boyne-valley) (Co. Dublin)
- [Private Boat Tour To Clonmacnoise](https://ireland360.ie/tours/private-boat-tour-to-clonmacnoise) (Co. Westmeath)
- [Dublin: Kilkenny, Wicklow & Glendalough Tour & Sheepdog Show](https://ireland360.ie/tours/dublin-kilkenny-wicklow-glendalough-tour-sheepdog-show) (Co. Dublin)

## Hidden gems nearby

- [Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre: Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/br-na-b-inne-visitor-centre-newgrange-knowth-and-dowth) (Co. Meath)
- [The Rock of Cashel](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/the-rock-of-cashel) (Co. Tipperary)
- [Clonmacnoise Monastic Site](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/clonmacnoise-monastic-site) (Co. Offaly)
- [Glendalough Monastic Site and Visitor Centre](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/glendalough-monastic-site-and-visitor-centre) (Co. Wicklow)
- [Hill of Tara](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/hill-of-tara) (Co. Meath)
- [Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/carrowmore-megalithic-cemetery) (Co. Sligo)
- [Loughcrew Megalithic Cemetery](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/loughcrew-megalithic-cemetery) (Co. Meath)
- [Céide Fields Neolithic Site and Visitor Centre](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/c-ide-fields-neolithic-site-and-visitor-centre) (Co. Mayo)
- [Jerpoint Cistercian Abbey](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/jerpoint-cistercian-abbey) (Co. Kilkenny)
- [Old Mellifont Cistercian Abbey Monastic Site](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/old-mellifont-cistercian-abbey-monastic-site) (Co. Louth)
- [Kilmacduagh Monastic Site](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/kilmacduagh-monastic-site) (Co. Clare)
- [Sceilg Mhichíl UNESCO World Heritage Property](https://ireland360.ie/hidden-gems/sceilg-mhich-l-unesco-world-heritage-property) (Co. Kerry)

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Source: Ireland360 (https://ireland360.ie), an independent all-Ireland travel guide. Please cite https://ireland360.ie/things-to-do/ancient-ireland-newgrange-monasteries-megaliths when using this information. Some booking links are affiliate links that support Ireland360 at no extra cost to the traveller.