Millmount Situated on high ground in the heart of Drogheda, just 20 minutes from Slane village, Drogheda Museum Millmount is housed in the town’s former barracks complex. Constructed by Hugh De Lacy in the early 12th century as a motte and bailey this functioned as the castle of de Lacy’s port town. Millmount played a …
Author archives: noeldavidson
Hill of Tara
Hill of Tara The Hill of Tara is a low-lying ridge located between Navan and Dunshaughlin about 20 minutes from Slane village. Tara gets its name from Teamhair na Rí meaning ‘Sanctuary of the Kings’ and it is important as the traditional inauguration site of the ancient High Kings of Ireland. The site has been subjected …
Donaghmore Round Tower
Donaghmore Round Tower Situated just 10 minutes west of Slane village, the cemetry at Donaghmore contains the ruins of a medieval church and a fine example of an Irish round tower. St Patrick is said to have founded the first monastery at this site. The round tower is likely to have been built in the 10th or …
Ardmulchan Church
Ardmulchan Church The ruins of Ardmulchan Church and graveyard lie on an elevated site overlooking the River Boyne, just 20 minutes from Slane. Built in the late 12th century the remains include a handsome square bell tower with the ground floor almost intact, vaulted with an elaborate stairway. The site offers spectacular views of the Boyne’s historical …
Mellifont Abbey
Mellifont Abbey Situated in a tranquil valley on the banks of the River Mattock, a tributary of the Boyne and just 20 minutes from Slane village, the abbey derives its name from the latin Font Mellismeaning ‘founain of honey’. Founded in 1142 by St Malachi, this was the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland. It became one …
Monasterboice
Monasterboice Located just 20 minutes from Slane village, Monasterboice features two of the finest high crosses in Ireland which date from the ninth century. These crosses are very finely carved and depict biblical scenes. The site also comprises of two churches and a round tower and it is one of Ireland’s earliest and best-known religious …
Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne The Battle of the Boyne was fought at Oldbridge on July 1st, 1690 between King William III and his father-in-law, King James II. At stake were the English throne, French dominance of Europe and power in Ireland. Oldbridge House is now a centre for the presentation of the battle and part …
Dowth – Brú na Bóinne
Dowth – Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site Similar in size to both Newgrange and Knowth, this is the least investigated of the three major tombs. Unlike the other two monuments no conservation or restoration work has been carried out here. There are 66 visible kerbstones around half the circumference of the mound. There are two …
Knowth – Brú na Bóinne
Knowth – Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site Constructed in 3000 BC, Knowth was extensively excavated over a 40-year period from 1962. Now reconstructed, the main mound contains two long passage tombs placed back to back. There are the remains of 19 smaller satellite mounds and more than 300 decorated stones in the main mound alone and …
Newgrange – Brú na Bóinne
Newgrange – Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site Newgrange passage tomb lies just 5km down stream from Slane village in the UNESCO Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site. Older than Stonehenge in the UK and the pyramids in Egypt, Newgrange is one of the most spectacular passage graves in Europe. Famous for its amazing art carved …
