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Unless otherwise stated, this image is the copyright of the submitter. Contact them for permission to reproduce it. |  | | Description | This image of the Newgrange passage tomb was taken October 16th 2005. It was such a wonderful experience to actually go into the passageway and view the interior of the mound :-) |
| Posted Comments: AngieLake
(2006-09-04) | Agreed, Siunni9, one of my most memorable visits, too. This facade probably isn't a bit like the original, but what a terrific work of art! | thecaptain
(2006-09-05) | When I visited Newgrange several years ago, I have to say I thought the whole dumbed down, Disneyland type "visitor experience" made a mockery of the place, and completely spoiled my time there. All wait here, now you've got 2 minutes there, and into the chamber, now out - dont touch, look over there....... All seemingly designed for people of low concentration span and very patronising. Perhaps its improved. | siunni9
(2006-09-05) | I agree with you Captain. The "tour" itself was very rehearsed, however being present interior was extremely moving for me. My husband visited Newgrange over twenty years ago, when there was not a visitors center, nor any tour guides. Ah, now that would have been even more wonderful :-) | bat400
(2006-09-05) | I visited Newgrange on a cold March afternoon this year. Considering the crush of visitors (and I cannot imagine what it must be like in "high" season) I think the guides did a decent job. Short of running tours 24 hours a day or limiting the number of visitors to the point where one would book appointments weeks or months in advance, the amount of time to really introduce the site in detail seems impossible. I have to admit that the "recreation" of the solstice light into the chamber was somewhat "cheesy" and I felt I could have done without it. | AngieLake
(2006-09-05) | I've been twice, 1999 and 2001, IIRC. I know what you mean about being herded around, but I remember we did have a great young Irish woman guide in 2001 (have recorded that visit on camcorder) - very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. What I liked was being in the central chamber with the lights off, because everyone was totally silent, and it was a completely 'timeless' moment - the nearest I've got to sharing a scenario with the ancient people who used it originally.
Incidentally, I did wonder if they had to ever turn away a prospective visitor for being too plump to squeeze through the passageway, which is very narrow at one point! | siunni9
(2006-09-06) | To correct any wrong impressions, the guides at both Newgrange and Knowth were wonderful, each of them having a wealth of information and stories. I truly appreciated all that I met :-) | thecaptain
(2006-09-06) | yep, I was not trying to criticise the guides at all. It was just the whole set up of the place, but with the numbers of visitors it must get, it must be very difficult to have people do proper visits at all. At least its not all fenced off and only allows people to see it from afar, like some of the major sites I can think of.
My ideals of being able to spend as much time as I would like, without hundreds of others around at the same time, is obviously not a realistic possibility here these days ! I must be thankful I could visit at all ! (And thankful for Ryanair to give me the opportunity to get to Dublin for a long weekend at affordable prices). | EMcDade
(2008-12-15) | My first visit to Newgrange was in late June 1985 and I was very impressed with the structure and in awe. As I recall, there was a small building on the grounds that displayed Bronze age artifacts and I don't believe there was an admission fee. My next visit was in 2000 and again in 2007. What a change! The present site management hopefully preserves a bit of the structure, and the income must allow for further excavation of the nearby tombs. The crowds that gather now are massive compared to 1985. More interest, more traffic, equals more degradition of the site. Hard to imagine how it will survive for another 4500 years. |
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