Engravings, right recess roof-slab, Newgrange.

Main page
Clickable map
Guided tours
Email

Newgrange mythology
Art at Newgrange
Winter solstice
Macalister's guide
Article by Tom Ray
Cursus at Newgrange
Knowth
Equinox at Knowth
Art at Knowth
Satellites
Dowth
Passages at Dowth
Art at Dowth
Loughcrew
Equinox sunrise
Samhain sunrise
Art at Loughcrew
Cairn D
Cairn U
Cairn S

Origins

The origins of Newgrange are lost in Ireland's misty pre-history. It is quite a famous place in Irish mythology, and is mentioned many times in various texts.

The first owner of the mansion was Elcmar the Druid, the consort of the Goddess Boann, the River Boyne. One day while Elcmar was away the Dagda appeared and wooed Boann, and they lay together and concieved a child. So that her husband would not know of their infidelity, the Dagda magically caused nine months to pass in one day, and thus Aongus Og was born on the same day he was concieved.

Then the Dagda took possession of the mound and lived there for many years. Aongus grew up to become the God of Love of the Túatha Dé Danann, and is always associated with birds, especially swans. During the Dagda's reign at Brú na Boinne, which means the Mansion of the Boyne, the place was always associated with magic and wonder. It is the most mentioned monument in ancient manuscripts, and was called by many names - 'yonder Bru of the many coloured Chequered Lights'.

An etching of Newgrange from the romantic days of candlelight and cattle

One day Aongus went to his father and asked for possession of the mound for a day and a night, to which the Dagda agreed. When he came back the next day, his son informed him that since all eternity is made up of day and night, the Dagda had given Aongus the mound for ever. And so it became the Brú of Aongus Og.

Newgrange is mentioned in several Celtic sagas; in one three sons of kings are advised to go to the Brú and fast for three days, after which they are rewarded with land, wives and wealth. It is the place where the Ulster hero, Cuchulain was concieved in a tale from the Ulster cycle; and it is interesting to note that in the early mythology the mound/womb is a place of conception and birth. The assocations with death and funerals tend come from later Christain and antiquarian writings. The symbolism of Newgrange fits in with Christian lore from a much later time as well: a magical child born in the middle of winter, who later spends three days in a stone tomb and emerges reborn may be a part of the original ritual of the site.

When Cormac mac Art, the glorious High King of the Celtic Golden Age died, he could not be buiried at Newgrange, as the River Boyne rose up against the funeral procession. It is thought that this may be early political writing by the hand of a rival clan.