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Newgrange Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

A Guide To Visiting Newgrange: A Place That Predates The Pyramids

By Author Cristina Miceli

Posted on Last updated: January 2, 2024

A visit to the Newgrange monument is one of the most impressive things to do in Meath .

Part of the Brú na Bóinne complex alongside Knowth , Newgrange is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it dates back to 3,200 BC.

In the guide below, you’ll find everything from where to get Newgrange tickets and the history of the area to how to enter the Newgrange Winter Solstice Lottery Draw.

Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Newgrange

Photos via Shutterstock

Although a visit to the Newgrange visitor centre (aka Brú na Bóinne) is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Part of the brilliant Boyne Valley Drive , you’ll find Newgrange on the banks of the River Boyne in Donore, a 15-minute drive from Drogheda .

2. Opening hours

The Newgrange visitor centre is open seven days a week. The opening hours for Newgrange vary by season and, as tickets can only be booked 30 days in advance, it’s hard to tell future opening and closing times. You’ll find the hours when you go to book a ticket .

3. Admission (book in advance!)

Newgrange tickets vary depending on the tour type (we’d recommend booking them in advance). Here’s how much entrance costs (note: Heritage Card holders get in free + prices may change):

• The Brú na Bóinne tour + Newgrange chamber is €18 for an adult and €12 for kids/students
• The Newgrange tour + exhibition is €10 for an adult and €5 for kids/students

4. Magic on 21st December

The entrance at Newgrange is finely aligned with the angle of the rising sun on December 21st (the Winter Solstice). On this day, a beam of sun shines through a roof-box that sits above its entrance and floods the chamber with sunlight (more info below).

5. The Newgrange visitor centre 

In the Brú na Bóinne Visitor centre you’ll find an exhibition on Newgrange and Knowth’s history. The centre also has a cafe, a gift shop and a bookshop.

6. Tours from Dublin

If you’re visiting from Dublin, this tour (affiliate link) is well worth considering. It’s €45 p/p and includes transport to Newgrange, the Hill of Tara and Trim Castle . Just keep in mind that you’ll need to pay the entry fees yourself.

The history of Newgrange

Newgrange is one of the most prominent passage tombs in the world and it’s arguably one of the most notable landmarks is Ireland .

It was constructed around 3,200 BC, during the Neolithic period.

It is one of the most popular places to visit in Ireland and, once you dive into its history, you quickly understand why.

Why was Newgrange built

Although its purpose is heavily debated, many archaeologists believe that Newgrange was built either to serve an astronomically-based religion, or to be used as a place for worship.

Some also believe that it was built by a society that revered the sun, which would make sense when you consider what takes place at Newgrange on December 21st (see below).

In Irish mythology , Newgrange is said to be the home of the Tuatha De Dannan (a tribe of gods).

It’s construction

It’s only when you start to look at how Newgrange was made that you really start to appreciate the dedication required to construct this magnificent structure.

There are many different theories about how Newgrange was constructed. Many geologists believe that the thousands of pebbles that were used to construct the cairn were taken from around the nearby River Boyne.

Some 547 slabs make-up the inner section of Newgrange along with the outer kerbstones. It’s believe that some of these were taken from as far away as Clogherhead Beach (19km from Newgrange).

The entrance to the tomb contains white quartz that was sourced from the Wicklow Mountains (over 50km away), while stone from the Mourne Mountains (50km away) and the Cooley Mountains were used, also.

The winter solstice

Our obsession with the Newgrange monument all began on the 21st of December 1967, when M.J. O’Kelly of University College Cork became the first person in modern history to witness one of the greatest natural feats in Ireland.

The entrance at Newgrange is finely aligned with the angle of the rising sun on December 21st (the Winter Solstice). On this day, a beam of sun shines through a roof-box that sits above its entrance and floods the chamber with sunlight.

The beam travels its way 63 feet into the chamber at Newgrange and continues through the chamber until it comes to a Triskelion symbol , illuminating the entire chamber in the process.

If you’d like to visit Newgrange on the Winter Solstic, you’ll need to enter a lottery, that often gets 30,000+ entries. To enter, you need to email [email protected].

What you’ll see on the Newgrange tour

One of the reasons that a trip to Newgrange is so popular is due to the sheer volume of history the monument, and the entire Brú na Bóinne complex, boasts. Here’s what to expect.

1. The mound and passage

Newgrange mainly consists of a vast mound, measuring 279 feet (85 metres) in diameter and 40 feet (12 metres) in height. This structure was built by alternating layers of stones and earth.

Access to the mound can be found on the southeastern side. This is the main entrance of Newgrange, opening on a 62-feet (19-meter) long passage.

At the end of this, three chambers off a larger central one were found. Inside those chambers, the remains of two bodies were discovered along with other objects such as a used flint flake, four pendants and two beads. 

2. 97 large kerbstones

One of the most striking features of the Newgrange monument is the 97 large stones, known as kerbstones, encircling the base of the mound. This particular type of stone, graywacke, cannot be found anywhere near this site.

Scholars believe that they were carried all the way to Newgrange from Clogherhead, around 20 km away from the site. It’s still unclear how these were carried. Some believe that rough sledges were used while others speculate that boats transported these massive stones to Newgrange. 

3. Neolithic rock art

Many rocks, including the kerbstones, are decorated with graphic Neolithic art. There are ten different categories of carvings present on this site.

Five of these are curvilinear and include motifs such as circles, spirals and arcs, while the other five are rectilinear, such as chevrons, parallel lines and radials.

The purpose of these carvings is still unclear. Some scholars believe they were merely decorative while others give them a symbolic meaning as many carvings were found in places that could not have been visible.

Things to do near Newgrange

One of the beauties of the Newgrange visitor centre is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Meath .

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from the Newgrange monument (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).

1. Knowth and Dowth

The visit departing from Brú na Bóinne Visitor centre will also bring you to a second Neolithic site known as Knowth . Another less known Neolithic site is Dowth .

2. Old Mellifont Abbey (15-minute drive)

Situated in Mellifont, County Louth, Old Mellifont Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland. It was built in 1142 with the help of a group of monks coming from France. In 1603, the treaty that put an end to the Nine Years War was signed here.

3. Slane Castle (15-minute drive)

Photo by Adam.Bialek (Shutterstock)

Slane Castle is one of the more unique castles in Ireland . It’s played host to some of the biggest names in Rock and Roll and it’s also home to an excellent whiskey distillery. Make sure to visit the village of Slane along with the ancient Hill of Slane , too.

FAQs about the Newgrange monument

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘How does the Newgrange winter solstice work?’ to ‘When was Newgrange built?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What is Newgrange?

Newgrange is a passage tomb that dates back to 3,200 BC. While its purpose is unknown, it’s widely believed that it was a place of worship.

Is the Newgrange visitor centre worth visiting?

Yes. This is one of the most impressive historical attractions in Ireland, and it’s 100% worth experiencing first hand.

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Newgrange Tour - Mary Gibbons Tours

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• Mary Gibbons Tours

We loved this tour and would highly recommend to our friends and family. Mary has a wealth of... read more

This was an excellent tour with a very experienced and very knowledgeable guide with a great sense... read more

Newgrange Tour

Excellent tour and tour guide! We visited the Hill of Tara. Knowth and Newgrange with entry into the Newgrange passage tomb. An amazing day with such informative narration by Mary! Mary is very personable and the driver did a great job navigating us safely to and fro. I highly recommend this tour.

So damned good. If you’re a genuine student of Irish history and pre-history, you will love this tour. Mary Gibbons is a font of knowledge and her spigot never turns off- and I mean that in the best possible way. She is compelling, incredibly informative, and, if you’re paying attention (and even if you aren’t), funny as hell. Through her masterful storytelling, our long-anticipated visit to Tara and Newgrange could not have been set up any better. This wasn’t just a tour, it was like a 5 hour master class from the best -and coolest -professor in the school

Mary is a great tour guide - full of interesting historical and archaeological information on Newgrange and Hill of Tara!

This was an amazing day made all the more amazing by Mary. We can't say enough about Mary's knowledge of Newgrange and Ireland. She's an incredible source of information. Mary was a delight to spend the day with, she's a natural teacher. a very sincere person and quite funny at times!. I particularly appreciated the interest she showed in the 20 somethings in our group. This was an incredible experience, I'm so glad we were lucky enough to visit Newgrange with Mary.

My husband and I went with Mary on her Newgrange and Hill of Tara tour. It was simply amazing! Mary is a perfect tour guide, incredibly knowledgeable and generous in sharing her thoughts about the sites and the history of Ireland. We loved her stories and her enthusiasm. The timing was well planned and getting to go into Newgrange in our small group was truly breathtaking. Mary’s tours are the best - don’t miss it if you have the chance!

Mary was an exceptional guide, we were so very lucky to see Newgrange and Tara with her. We learned so much and she was especially interested in the young adults in our family. What an amazing tour day it was for all of us. I would highly recommend Mary’s tour! Rush you for an unforgettable day!

Visit Newgrange: An ancient mystery

Even today, the ancient site of Newgrange still holds a great mystery – who built it and why?

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

Updated: January 24, 2024

Visit Newgrange from Dublin

Built more than 5000 years ago, the ancient tomb of Newgrange is one of the most important historical sites in Ireland - even named as a World Heritage Site.

There are only a limited number of spots each day to go inside Newgrange, so here's everything you need to plan your visit to the Brú na Bóinne area.

What is Newgrange?

Who built newgrange.

• My top tips for visiting Newgrange
• The Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre

“Let me show you what it’s like on the winter solstice,” the guide says as he turns off the lights. Here, on a visit to Newgrange, we’re thrust into pitch blackness, with just cold stone all around us.

The guide flicks a switch and a narrow band of orange light appears on the floor. It’s clear to make out but is only just there, almost swallowed up by the darkness around us.

He flicks another switch and the beam becomes stronger. It now stretches from up the end of the long narrow passage and hits the stones near where I’m standing at the very back.

It’s still black everywhere else and my hand is invisible in front of my face – just a vague silhouette. But this orange ray is bold and warm. It brings with it such power and… hope.

For millennia, this orange beam has been appearing down the passage just once a year, on the winter solstice… but nobody knows exactly why Newgrange was designed to achieve that effect.

There are lots of theories and educated guesses – and I’m not the first to think of power and hope .

Those two ideas form one of the strongest theories about the Newgrange site here in Ireland, about an hour’s drive from Dublin.

Why is Newgrange important?

Newgrange is an ancient tomb built more than 5000 years ago that is an incredibly well-preserved monument offering insight into the prehistoric people who once lived in Ireland. It also contains Europe’s largest concentration of prehistoric megalithic art. Newgrange is part of a World Heritage Site called Brú na Bóinne, that includes the other nearby prehistoric landmarks of Knowth and Dowth.

How old is Newgrange?

The prehistoric monument of Newgrange was built around 3200 BC, making it older than other similar landmarks like Stonehenge – or even the Pyramids of Giza.

Can you go inside Newgrange?

Yes, you can go inside Newgrange to see the main passage and the the rocks inside that have megalithic art carved onto them. Entry to Newgrange is only possible with guided tours from the site’s visitor centre.

To learn more about why the prehistoric tomb of Newgrange was built like this – and who built it all those millennia ago – the best thing to do is visit Newgrange for yourself.

There’s a modern and sophisticated visitor experience, although numbers to actually go inside Newgrange itself are limited, so you’ll want to book well in advance.

To visit Newgrange from Dublin, I would recommend this excellent day trip that also includes some other interesting sights along the way. (Places are limited, so book as soon as possible!)

Along this part of the River Boyne’s north bank, in an area known as Brú na Bóinne, is a collection of ancient graves and other historic monuments around three great burial mounds – Knowth, Dowth, and Newgrange.

Of those three, Newgrange is certainly the most significant and is undoubtedly the highlight of a visit. So, let’s have a look at some of the history of Newgrange and what you’ll discover when you come here.

Newgrange, at its simplest, is an enormous burial mound built more than 5000 years ago (before the Pyramids or Stonehenge). It was surely more than that, though.

It must have also had some kind of ceremonial role in the society of people who lived in these lands all those years ago.

How? Well, we don’t know for sure. But it’s clear that this chamber where the winter solstice shines was the focus.

The chamber is about 6 metres high and it is deep in the very centre of the mound, which is about 76 metres in diameter. To get to it, I’ve come through the narrow passage from the very edge, squeezing between rocks on a couple of occasions and ducking my head a couple of times.

But, here in the centre, there is plenty of space. The three sides that don’t have the passageway entrance have alcoves that may have been altars or may have been where the remains of the deceased were kept.

Some of the rocks – on the walls and the ceilings – are carved with mysterious artwork. I would love to show you some pictures of them but photography isn’t allowed inside the mound.

In some ways this is a good thing. Photos would not be able to convey the sense of being inside the chamber and it’s something which is best experienced for yourself.

There is a spiritual energy inside the chamber of Newgrange.

The best time to be here, to experience the power, is on the winter solstice – the day the guide is now replicating for us. Because even 5000 years ago, the humans who built Newgrange had an incredible understanding of astronomy and geometry.

For just a matter of minutes at about 9 o’clock on the morning of the winter solstice, the rising run will shine directly down the passage, through a special box at the entrance.

Well… I say that humans had a good understanding of astronomy back then but, really, the best way to put it is that they had no choice but to understand the seasons. It was about survival.

Winter in Ireland didn’t just mean months of biting cold, it meant a scarcity of food – so understanding the movement of the sun meant being able to plan your harvests and prepare for bad times.

One theory amongst archaeologists is that Newgrange was used as a plea to the gods to bring back the sun. The winter solstice is the turning point when the days will start to get longer again.

Perhaps the people of 5000 years ago worried that one day that wouldn’t happen, that the days would just keep getting shorter until they lived in eternal darkness.

Perhaps the ceremonies in that chamber were to ask for their light back and to send that message to the deities directly back up that beam of orange.

These people from Newgrange are interesting, and even though we don’t know a lot about them, they’ve left us quite a lot to work with.

Newgrange is just one site of many in the area – the whole ensemble being called Brú na Bóinne. There are two other large mounds called Knowth and Dowth that presumably hold some particular significance, and at least 40 smaller mounds within relatively easy reach.

This collection of structures shows us that these communities were transitioning from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled agriculture. They began cultivating crops such as wheat and barley and domesticating animals like cattle, sheep, and pigs.

Even the construction of the tombs, all those years ago before the wheel was invented, is impressive, and the artworks give us an indication of what was important to them – these carvings often depict abstract symbols, spirals, and other motifs, possibly representing their cosmological beliefs or spiritual concepts.

But, still, there’s a mystery and you are left to wonder what these people were thinking.

The rock positioned at the entrance to the mound at Newgrange is the most famous of them all. Take a look at it here:

My guide suggests a few of the popular theories about what it’s depicting:

• It shows the passage of the sun in the days around the winter solstice…
• It’s a map of the area with the three mounds prominent…
• It’s some kind of ancient pictorial language…

Oh, or it could just be a pretty pattern that doesn’t mean anything. That’s a popular theory as well.

Because the construction of Newgrange and other megalithic sites would’ve required considerable planning and specialised knowledge, historians assume the people had a well-organised social structure. That means there were probably leaders, as well as skilled craftsmen and builders.

And, because Newgrange and the other megalithic sites show evidence that rituals were held here, that suggests the people followed some form of religion – one that probably had its own related burial rites and seasonal festivals.

Visiting Newgrange

You can visit Newgrange – and you can even go inside the central passage within the tomb.

But because it’s a really small space inside the tomb, entry to Newgrange is only with a guided tour, and there’s a limited number of them each day (with a limited number of spots on each tour).

That’s why booking in advance and as early as possible is really important!

There are two ways to book a spot to see Newgrange. If you’re travelling out to the site independently, you can buy tickets for the available tours through the official visitor centre here .

If you would like to join a tour with transport from Dublin, or if you want to see if a tour operator still has tickets for a day that appears sold out on the official site, you can go with this excellent day trip .

Until a few years ago, you could drive right up to a carpark next to the main tomb. But now that road is closed to tourists.

Instead, you need to head to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, about two kilometres away, from where all the activities are run for the group of ancient sites. (I’ve got more info about the visitor centre below.)

Where is Newgrange?

Newgrange is in the countryside near the town of Drogheda, about 40 kilometres north of Dublin. It’s accessible from the nearby Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. The official address is Brú na Bóinne, Glebe, Donore, Co. Meath, A92 EH5C. You can see it on a map here .

How do you get to Newgrange?

To access Newgrange, you need to go to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. By car, it’s about a 40-minute drive from Dublin and there’s plenty of parking. By public transport, there are several different routes you can do, combining buses and trains. The quickest is to take the 901 bus to Drogheda (35 mins) and then transfer to the 163 bus to the visitor centre (23 mins).

When is Newgrange open?

Newgrange is only accessible with a guided tour from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. There are normally about 12 tours throughout the day. The visitor centre is open at the following times throughout the year: January: 09:00 – 16:15 February – March: 09:30 – 16:45 May – August: 09:00 – 17:45 September: 09:00 – 17:15 October – December: 09:00 – 16:15

How much is the Newgrange entry fee?

The main tour of Brú na Bóinne from the visitor centre, which includes visiting Knowth and going into the Newgrange chamber, costs: General: £18 Senior (60+): £16 Student/child (12+): £12 Family: £48

Are there tours to Newgrange?

The only way to actually go inside Newgrange is on a tour run by the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, which you should book in advance (as early as possible). For a tour from Dublin to Newgrange that includes entry to Newgrange and some great stops along the way, I would recommend this excellent day trip .

As well as the tour from Dublin that I’ve recommended, there are a handful of other Newgrange tours available that might better suit your circumstances, including a private tour and one that includes Trim Castle . You can see the options here:

It’s not possible to go inside the chambers at Knowth, so Newgrange is really the main event. However, it’s not the only thing here, and it’s definitely worth giving yourself enough time to look through the visitor centre – or even join some of the other experiences here at Brú na Bóinne.

Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre

Just two kilometres from the Newgrange mound, the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre is your first port of call for all the activities here, and a wealth of information about the ancient people who built the neolithic structures.

Within the visitor centre is a modern and interesting exhibition about many aspects of the story. What caught my attention were the sections about the people who lived here.

They’re depicted wearing animal furs as clothes, hunting with simple weapons, gathering around a fire in a crude tent. But then the text says “these humans were almost identical to humans today”.

I look at the models of the men and think they look nothing like me. They’re primitive and ancient and have foxes hanging from the roof of their tent.

But, then again, they dragged heavy stones from 80 kilometres away and built a waterproof chamber in an enormous mound that is perfectly aligned with an astronomical event.

What what these people thinking? What did they know?

The exhibition here doesn’t answer all those questions, but it gives you a lot more information than you probably had before coming here.

The exhibition is included with the main tour ticket, but if you just want to see the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre without taking a tour, it costs £5 for general admission, £4 for a senior, and £3 for a student/child.

Although the exhibition is interesting, obviously it’s the burial mounds themselves that are the most important things to see.

All of the tours of the area leave from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, and there are three main options to choose from:

• First, there is the main Brú na Bóinne Tour , which includes a visit to Knowth and into the chamber at Newgrange. (£18 general, £16 senior, £12 child, £48 family)
• Another option is the Newgrange Tour , which goes to Newgrange and inside the chamber but doesn’t visit Knowth at all. (£10 general, £8 senior, £5 child, £25 family)
• And there is the Knowth Tour , which only visits Knowth (which you can’t go inside) but not Newgrange. There’s normally a bit more availability on this one if the Newgrange ones are booked out. (£10 general, £8 senior, £5 child, £25 family)

All of the tours tend to get booked out – often more than two weeks in advance – so I would recommend getting your tickets as soon as possible here on the official website .

And, I should also mention that a bit further afield and not part of the Brú na Bóinne area, there’s also the megalithic site of Loughcrew , another group of passage tombs from the 4th millennium BC.

All of these tombs, even somewhere like Newgrange, may not have the reputation of Stonehenge… but they are just as mysterious.

It’s a mystery that will probably never have an answer – but visiting Newgrange, and going inside the chamber to see where that winter solstice sunrise hits the carved rock at the end, is a really special way to connect with the people who lived here more than 5000 years ago!

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN DUBLIN

The city is easy to get around but I think you’ll find Dublin’s best accommodation south of the river, around St Stephen’s Green.

Being a student city, there are lots of hostels but I would recommend Generator Dublin .

Dublin can be expensive but you can get an affordable private room at Destiny Student – Tannery .

For a really cool hotel with a distinct style, I love The Dean Dublin .

And for modern five-star luxury, I don’t think you’ll find better than The Marker Hotel .

Time Travel Turtle was a guest of Tourism Ireland but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.

This site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List ! I'm on a mission to visit as many World Heritage Sites as I can. Only about 800 more to go... eek!

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7 thoughts on “Visit Newgrange: An ancient mystery”

Newgrange is totally fascinating. It was also a big surprise for me. Had no idea about this site before our trip in 2004. I have to admit that because of my claustrophobia I almost didn’t make it through the passageway to see the solstice demonstration. But after turning around halfway and bolting out, I came back and was glad I did.

I’m glad you did too because I don’t think you can get an understanding of the site without going inside – that’s sort of the whole point of it! I also didn’t know much about it before I went so it was fascinating to learn all of this.

Such a cool experience! There is so much history and culture present here and it is almost more interesting because no one knows the true story or reasoning of the people who built Bru Na Boinne. Thanks for the post.

I agree – the mystery makes it even more fascinating. Sometimes using your imagination to conjure up ideas of how it would have been is half the fun!

With all due respect to Professor O’Kelly and his extensive research, I think a great disservice has been done by constructing (I hesitate to use the term reconstruction) of the white quartzite facade. The fact that the construction required additional modern engineering to support them adds skepticism to the assumed shape and slope. Modeling is one thing, but it is still conjecture. Doing actual forensic construction based upon moldeling – and doing so in a way that makes the structure appear so unrealistically modern runs the risk of being labeled “bad science.” The facade’s less than complete encurclement appears contrary to the symetry and complete circles depicted in the carvings – again adding skepticism. Although I have yet to look at Dr. Kelly’s writing, one question that initially arose in my mind is whether the amount of stone present was sufficient to encircle the entire structure if it had been done in a soil matricx, whcih would also have been more stable. Going forward to construct the wall of quartz stone presents it as fact that this was the initial construction – when there is plenty of reason to hold off. I design underground excavations and structures for a living, and am stunned at the engineering of the known details of the New Grange, and by themselves, they stand as a marvel. But the creation of a nearly vertical quartz cobble wall defies their understanding of stable stone construction.

Yes, it’s a very good point. I didn’t go into it in detail in my story, but there is very fair argument about whether Newgrange should have been reconstructed based on theories, rather than any direct evidence of how it actually looked. As you say, the interior (which I think is the highlight) has maintained its integrity and the major engineering marvels are still in place. But I do wonder whether it give the wrong impression to have the white wall around the base when it may actually have been nothing like that 5000 years ago!

Can you go and look at these structures from the outside if yours are not available ?

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Newgrange and Boyne Valley: Best Day Tours From Dublin

• By Oisin Feeney
• March 26, 2020
• Category: Meath

No trip to Ireland is complete without visiting the megalithic tomb of Newgrange in Meath. The tomb was built in 3200 BC which makes it older than Stonehenge in England, and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt!

As well as that, the surrounding countryside is steeped in the ancient history of the Irish people and it is a great way to spend a day out in Ireland. Don’t miss this incredible UNESCO listed site when you travel to Dublin .

There are many Newgrange tours from Dublin you can join, this is one of the best day trips from the city!

These tours are a great way to get an understanding of Newgrange, learn the history behind it, visit the surrounding castles and Boyne Valley, and of course, receive transportation out to the sites. 

Here’s our pick of best Newgrange Tours from Dublin, as tested by us!

In This Post:

1. Newgrange, Knowth, Hill of Slane & Hill of Tara

2. boyne valley: full-day celts and castles guided tour, 3. newgrange private morning tour from dublin, visiting newgrange independently, enjoy this amazing day trip.

This highly-rated tour takes in Newgrange, Knowth, Hill of Slane, and the Hill of Tara. 

You’ll be picked up in a small minivan and depart from Dublin (outside of the Gresham Hotel ), and make your way towards Newgrange. 

Enter Newgrange and be blown away by the prehistoric passage tombs! Your guide will explain the history and provide lots of information on this incredible site. 

From there, visit the Hill of Slane – which is an important Christian settlement once associated with St. Patrick. The village of Slane has actually had some pretty epic concerts — Rolling Stones, Metallica, Queen, U2 and more.

After the Hill of Slane, you’ll check out the Hill of Tara, which is an important archaeological complex located next to the River Boyne. 

Be awed by the stunning Irish landscape here, and of course, the ancient monuments and Megalithic art. 

This Newgrange Tour from Dublin includes:

• All admission fees
• A knowledgeable guide
• Round-Trip Transport in an air-conditioned minivan (meeting point is the Gresham Hotel)
• Visiting Newgrange, Knowth, The Hill of Slane and the Hill of Tara

☞ CLICK HERE to learn more about this day tour from Dublin to Newgrange (or, click on the image below).

This highly-rated tour takes in Newgrange, Trims Castle, Slane Castle, the Hill of Tara and Monasterboice Monastery. 

If you’re interested in a Newgrange tour, with a side of castles, this is a good option!

You’ll meet outside of the AIB bank in Dublin, hop in a minibus and make your way to Newgrange. 

Apart from Newgrange and the Hill of Tara, you’ll also visit Trim Castle, which is the largest Norman castle in Europe, and the largest castle in Ireland . And, if you’re a movie buff, this is where scenes from Braveheart were shot. 

Moving on, you’ll check out another castle — Slane Castle. Located on a 1,500-acre estate, this is not only a very impressive sight, but it’s a location for weddings, conferences, and concerts. 

This is where the likes of U2, Metallica, Bruce Springsteen, Guns ‘n Roses, Queen, and more have performed. 

Once you’ve got your fill of castles, it’s time to check out the Monasterboice Monastery, which dates back to the 5th century. Here you’ll find gravesites, churches, high crosses, and a sundial. 

This Newgrange tour from Dublin includes:

• Round-Trip Transportation from Dublin (meeting point is the AIB Bank)
• An Informative Guide
• Visiting Newgrange, Trims Castle, Slane Castle, the Hill of Tara and Monasterboice Monastery. 
• It does not include entrance fees to the sites

This highly-rated private tour is for those of you who are looking for a shorter tour, that leaves earlier in the morning, and is private.

You’ll be picked up from your hotel (or cruise terminal) at 8:00 am and set off for Newgrange, while passing through the Boyne Valley on the way.

The major perk of this tour is that because you’re leaving earlier in the morning, you’ll have Newgrange and the tombs all to yourself before the other groups of tourists arrive. The major difference is that you’re not visiting the other sites in the area.

After exploring Newgrange, you’ll head back to Dublin through County Meath . 

• Pick-up directly from your hotel or the cruise terminal in Dublin
• Private Tour 
• A Knowledgable Guide
• All Admission Fees
• All Transfers and Tolls

☞ CLICK HERE to learn more about this half-day tour to Newgrange from Dublin (or click the image below).

If you have your own vehicle and decide to visit Newgrange independently, you’ll need to go to the visitor centre first before heading to the sites. 

Once you pass through the visitor centre you will then take a shuttle bus to the Newgrange tomb and Knowth tomb. You have two options: visiting the exterior of these sites, or the interior.

Without pre-booked tickets, access to the site is not guaranteed — which is why joining a tour is a good option. 

How Far is Newgrange from Dublin?

Newgrange is located in County Meath, about 50km/30 miles from Dublin by car.

That’s about an hour’s drive from the city centre. If you’re driving you can follow the M1 motorway most of the way before turning off at exit 9. From there you will only be a few minutes away. 

What is The Best Way to Get to Newgrange?

If you have a rental car then driving is the easiest option, but, if you would like to learn about the ancient site and surrounding area, I recommend joining a tour for this day trip.

Parking in the Newgrange visitor centre is free and you can explore it at your own leisure. If you are driving yourself then make sure that tickets aren’t sold out on the day because it can get very busy!

How Much Does Newgrange Cost?

Here is the cost of visiting Newgrange and Knowth, for both options — exterior only, or interior as well. 

Exterior of Newgrange and Knowth Only:

Adult €12 Senior/Group €10 Children (12-17) €8 Family* €28

Exterior and Passage of Newgrange and Knowth:

Adult €18 Senior/Group €16 Children (12-17) €12 Family* €48

When is Newgrange Open?

Since Newgrange isn’t open during the months of January and February, you’ll want to time your visit to Ireland outside of those months. Here’s a list of when Newgrange is open, which changes depending on the season:

March & April Open: 9:30am Last shuttle to monuments 15.00 Last admission to Visitor Centre 16.45

May, June, July & August  Open: 9:00am Last shuttle to monuments 16:30 Last admission to Visitor Centre 18:15

September Open: 9:00am Last shuttle to monuments 15:30 Last admission to Visitor Centre 17:15

October Open: 9:30am Last shuttle to monuments 15:00 Last admission to Visitor Centre 16:45

November & December Open: 9:00am Last shuttle to monuments 14:30 Last admission to Visitor Centre 16:15

December 24-27 – Closed. 

As you can see, it really is easier and a similar price to join a day trip from Dublin to Newgrange.

Not only will you learn a lot more about the history of the area, but you’ll be able to sit back and fully enjoy the experience — without worrying about getting lost, or driving on Ireland’s roads (which can be a challenge for foreigners!).

The tours also take in many other sites in the area, which is something to consider. Newgrange and the surrounding picturesque Boyne Valley is just one of the many fascinating things to see in Ireland. Don’t miss it! 

Images in this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.com .

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About The Author

Oisin feeney.

Oisin is a journalist and award-winning photographer. Published in Lonelyplanet.com, buzz.ie, Derry Journal and Irishcentral.com. Currently working as a tour guide in Ireland, Italy, France and Iceland, Oisin is an expert on Ireland.

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Newgrange Tours By Mary Gibbons

Book your seat on our world-renowned tour of Newgrange - Hill of Tara today

Book your Seat on Our Newgrange, and Hill of Tara Tour Today

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Please provide the following in your email:

Date of tour. Number of people. Where you're staying. Your mobile number.

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Description of the Day

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Newgrange Tours By Mary Gibbons provides visitors with our world-renowned bus tour of some of the most famous and iconic locations of Ireland’s Ancient East. Our guided tour visits Newgrange Passage Tomb of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Site of Brú na Bóinne and we also visit the Hill of Tara, the ancient capital of Ireland.  With our tour, visitors can skip the line and are guaranteed access to the Newgrange monument.

Along with entering the monument passage and chamber, visitors also explore and discover the world famous collection of decorated kerbstones that surround the passage tomb. These stones display some of Europe's best-preserved examples of Neolithic art.

This is one of Ireland’s premier historical and archaeological tours, in operation for over 30 years. Mary Gibbons has a wealth of experience guiding people, not only in Ireland but to some of the great sites of the World including; Pompeii and Herculaneum, Stonehenge, Jerusalem, Rome, The Vatican City and the Great Wall of China. Interested in booking your spot on our next Brú na Bóinne tour? Get in contact with Newgrange Tours By Mary Gibbons today. +353863551355 / [email protected]

With our tour, visitors can skip the line and are guaranteed access to the Newgrange monument and Knowth monument.

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Interested in booking your spot on our Newgrange bus tour? Get in contact with our office or fill in a call back form today, to secure your seat now.

Information on Newgrange

Newgrange is approximately 5000 years old. It is Ireland's greatest Neolithic Passage Tomb, world famous for its annual Winter Solstice and home to some of Europe's richest collections of megalithic art.

Information on the Hill Of Tara

The historic seat of Irish kings, it is thought that over 140 kings reigned in Ireland in the name of Tara. In ancient mythology, Tara was revered as a dwelling of the gods.

Information on Knowth

Of similar vintage and located to the west of Newgrange, on a ridge of shale overlooking the river Boyne, the enormous tumulus of Knowth covers two passage tombs, placed back to back.

NB Please note Newgrange is open all year round Knowth is closed between November and February.

Newgrange Tour Endorsements

Our accessible, engaging and entertaining tour has attracted the attention of some of the world’s best-known travel guides and travel writers.

We provide visitors with fascinating insights into the discovery of the Brú na Bóinne site in the 17th century. We also explore how American archaeologists played a pivotal role in on the earliest writing regarding the site.

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How to Visit Newgrange and Knowth: 6 Awesome Tips

Newgrange and Knowth are part of the Brú na Bóinne area of County Meath , Ireland.

Brú na Bóinne means “palace of the Boyne” and it was so named because it’s this area of the Boyne River where the ancient people of Ireland built these incredible structures.

This is the place that was sacred to them.

Newgrange and Knowth are the 2 sites you can visit.

Dowth is a third site that is not open to the public due to its instability.

But all 3 are part of Brú na Bóinne where you can see incredible ancient sites and passage tombs.

It’s at this time of year — Winter Solstice — that Newgrange becomes even more magical.

So, as a traveler, what is the best way to see these sites?

Are there any tips or tricks?

The answer is yes.

But first…

The River Boyne.

Where is Brú na Bóinne? Can I get there from Dublin?

The Brú na Bóinne area is about 45km north of Dublin.

So it’s an easy day trip from the Irish capital.

And in fact, you can take tours to Newgrange and Knowth from Dublin so you don’t have to drive.

Or if you want to drive yourself, it makes a great overnight stop on your way to other parts of Ireland.

The Brú na Bóinne area is really beautiful with green rolling hills dotted with cows and sheep.

There are a few towns nearby that make a good base should you want to stay overnight.

Consider Drogheda for a larger town and smaller towns such as Slane or Trim.

Brú na Bóinne area with its green hills dotted with sheep. It’s really lovely!

6 tips for visiting Newgrange and Knowth

#1 — you must go with an organized tour.

Please, do NOT show up at Newgrange or Knowth on your own.

You MUST go to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center to buy your ticket for an organized tour.

And it’s worth the €6-13, depending on if you see one or both of the sites as the guides are good and the tours very informative.

You can buy your ticket in advance, but only 36 hours.

Or you can go with an organized tour from Dublin.

Your choice.

But please follow the signs for the visitor center as this is where the tours begin.

You will board a bus that will take you to the actual site where a guide will meet you.

Then you board the bus back to the visitor center.

Easy peasy.

A view of Newgrange from the road leading to the visitor center. Whatever you do, do NOT show up at either Newgrange or Knowth directly.

#2 — Go early

If you don’t buy your ticket in advance — which I’ve never done — go early, especially at busier times (May through mid-September).

I’ve never had an issue getting a ticket for a tour, but 2 of the times I visited, it was just me.

The website does advise buying a ticket in advance so if you can, then do so.

And if you have a large group, then you must pre-book.

But I still recommend going early even if you book in advance as you beat the tour bus crowds that are going to come through.

Newgrange is open year round from either 9am or 9:30am to various evening hours depending on the month.

Knowth is open from 30 March to 7 November.

Mounds at Knowth. Do visit early in the day as it tends to be less busy.

#3 — Do visit both Newgrange and Knowth

On my first 2 visits to Brú na Bóinne, I only toured Newgrange — which I LOVE!

This year, I decided to just visit Knowth.

My advice is to see both.

They’re different, but equally impressive.

Newgrange is a passage tomb and you are allowed inside the chamber.

It’s inside the small chamber that you’ll be rewarded with the Winter Solstice sunrise experience.

It’s cool as hell!

Knowth also has a passage tomb the size of Newgrange.

Actually there are 2 entrances and passageways at Knowth.

But Knowth also has satellite mounds/passage tombs scattered about the site.

And the rock art here is incredible.

The downfall is you can’t go inside the chambers as Knowth is still being excavated.

So while you are allowed to enter a small chamber immediately inside Knowth, you don’t get to go way inside of it.

But you can take a look down a passage way and it looks amazing.

Newgrange and Knowth are completely different experiences.

But both worthy of time.

It takes about 3 hours to see both as well as spending some time in the visitor center.

Newgrange on my second visit in 2010 with my parents and Irish friend.

The window box of Newgrange that allows the winter solstice sunrise light into the chamber.

The stone that sits outside the entrance to Newgrange. I love this!!

The main mound/passage tomb at Knowth.

I love the artwork at Knowth. It’s really beautiful!

This is the one passageway in Knowth. While it is not open to walk through, you do get a good look at it from the inside chamber where your tour begins.

#4 — Take the time to wander around on your own a bit

I like that the tours to both Newgrange and Knowth allow a bit of time to wander around the site on your own.

The guide will tell you what time to be back at the bus stop.

Respect that.

But do take the time the guide gives you to really look at the site you are visiting.

There’s a lot to see if you get up close and look.

Use that time.

A couple of the mounds at Knowth. The one on the right is the main passage tomb. And there are more as you wander around the site.

Walking around Newgrange allows you to really see the entire mound.

#5 — Use your imagination

Both Newgrange and Knowth do require you to use a bit of your imagination.

The guides are fabulous at painting a picture of what the experts think life was like back when these structures were built.

They speculate as to what each was used for by the ancient people.

But it’s up to you, the visitor, to picture it in your mind — to imagine what life would have been like and what these sites may have looked like at that time.

The Knowth site. It’s cool to walk around and imagine what life was like waaaayyyy back.

#6 — Spend some time in the visitor center

The Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center is definitely worthy of your time.

It’s included in your tour fee no matter if you choose to visit just one or both of the sites.

Do spend some time viewing the exhibits as it helps to get a clearer picture of what life was like in this piece of Ireland at the time these structures were built.

It’s an excellent visitor center with lots of insightful information.

And there’s a place to grab a bite to eat and to buy your Knowth or Newgrange souvenir.

Some of the artwork at Knowth which is really stunning!

The Boyne River.

Bonus tip — Do stop by Dowth

While you can’t really see Dowth as you do Newgrange and Knowth, you can actually drive to it and wander about it a bit.

It’s on the north side of the river, a couple of miles from the Slane to Drogheda road and East of Newgrange.

Dowth suffered from some very unprofessional excavation back in 1847 which is a shame.

2 passage tombs were discovered, but as a result of the poor excavation, it’s very unstable so you can’t go into it.

But you can see the mound which is about the same size as Newgrange and Knowth.

You can commune with the ancient spirits without a lot of people around.

I wish I had done this!

And lastly…

Happy Winter Solstice!!

Are you ready to visit Newgrange and Knowth?

Well I’m ready to lend a hand. Who am I? I’m Lynne Nieman and I’m a personal travel planner helping people like you create your perfect European adventure. Whether you need help planning part or all of your trip, I’m ready to assist you in making your travel dreams come true!

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Everything you need to know about visiting Newgrange: Getting there, cost and what to expect

The ancient burial tomb is in the Boyne Valley in Co Meath

• 22:39, 29 JUN 2023

Newgrange is the most visited archaeological site in Ireland.

Located in the Boyne Valley in Co Meath, the passage tomb dates back to the Stone Age at around 3,200 BC. At around 5,200 years old, it's older than the pyramids of Egypt.

Not only does the site draw in visitors because of its construction, it is also revered for its alignment with astronomy as its passage and chamber flood with light on the winter solstice.

Read more: Older than Egypt's pyramids: The history and mystery of ancient Irish burial tombs

Read more: Historic Irish site named as one of the best tourist attractions in the world by Tripadvisor

The tomb is a must-visit for lovers of ancient history and Irish culture alike. Here's everything you need to know if you plan on joining the estimated 200,000 visitors Newgrange pulls in each year.

Booking and cost

You need a ticket to see Newgrange. The only way to access the monument is through the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.

Tickets are required to be booked in advance. There are four tour/exhibition options of varying admission rates, though children under 12 get in free to all.

The main one, and most recommended, is the Brú na Bóinne Tour and Newgrange Chamber. This includes a guided tour of Newgrange and the nearby passage tomb of Knowth, access to Newgrange's passage chamber, and access to the visitor center exhibitions.

As of 2023, the admission rates for this tour are as follows:

• Senior (60 and over): €16
• Students with ID: €12
• Children over 12: €12
• Family ticket (Two adults and up to five children aged 12-17): €48

To book online, visit heritageireland.ie .

Alternatively, you can book a private tour that includes transport to and from Dublin at newgrangetours.com .

How to get there

The only way to access the monuments is through the visitor center, so that's where you need to go. After you've explored the exhibitions, you'll be taken from the center to the monuments via shuttle bus.

If you're driving or going by taxi, this is the address to key into Google Maps: Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, Brú na Bóinne, Glebe, Donore, Co Meath, A92 EH5C. From Dublin, the fastest route is via the M1. Parking is available at the visitor center.

By public transport, the easiest way is to go to the nearby town of Drogheda. If you're traveling from Dublin, you can get a train from Connelly Station, the Expressway 100X bus from numerous stops in the city center or the Matthews 901 express coach from North Cumberland Street.

You can then get the Local Link 188 bus from Drogheda Bus Station. This will drop you directly to the visitor center.

What to expect

Many visitors love experiencing the simulation of Newgrange's passage and chamber filling with light as it does on the winter solstice. Yet as it's a confined, dark space, it may not be suitable for everyone.

The passage and chamber are low and narrow. Those with mobility issues, claustrophobia, or who otherwise require special assistance are asked to contact the center in advance. Call +353 041 988 0300 or email [email protected].

There are restrooms at the visitor center and at the monuments themselves. Ask your guide to point them out as Newgrange is on a hill and so is a bit of a walk away from its toilet facilities.

There is no access to Knowth's interior on any of the tours so the only tomb chamber you can enter is Newgrange. Bags aren't allowed inside and must be left in secured containers provided at the tomb's entrance.

Taking photos or videos inside the chamber is not permitted.

There is a picnic area if you opt to bring food, or a café at the visitor center if you want to buy. The visitor center also has a gift shop.

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Visiting Bru na Boinne- Newgrange and Knowth Passage Tombs

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Near a bend in the River Boyne, in Ireland’s Ancient East, is a complex of mysterious monuments older than the Egyptian pyramids. Known collectively as Brú na Bóinne, these three Neolithic passage tombs- Knowth, Newgrange, and Dowth- make up a fascinating archaeological landscape that dates back over 5,000 years.

During my tour of Brú na Bóinne, I visited the two best-preserved tombs, Knowth and Newgrange. What I discovered were structures that, on first glance, looked like nothing more than grassy mounds, but actually were sophisticated constructions of ceremonial, spiritual, and astrological importance.

About Brú na Bóinne- History, Construction, and Archaeological Remains

There is evidence of human settlement at Brú na Bóinne from 6,000 years ago, but the most notable remains are the Neolithic tombs that dot the landscape. The principal tombs are Knowth, Newgrange, and Dowth, but at least 40 passage tombs were built in the area.

Construction of the passage tombs at Brú na Bóinne started around 3300 BC, when the Boyne Valley was already an established, organized farming community. The three main tombs were built with solar alignments in mind and the mounds were ringed with kerbstones engraved with Neolithic art. The Brú na Bóinne tombs have the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe.

By around 2900 BC, the tombs were no longer used but the area remained an important gathering place for rituals and ceremonies, especially Knowth. Pit and wooden post circles (henges) were built, as were ring ditches for burials and burnt mounds (fulachtaí fia) for heating water.

In the late 20 th century, archaeological excavations and conservation work were carried out at Newgrange and Knowth. The two sites have since become popular tourist attractions in Ireland. In 1993, Brú na Bóinne was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

How to Visit Brú na Bóinne

Brú na Bóinne can be visited as a day trip from Dublin, but I decided to spend the night nearby in Donore so I could beat the crowds and secure a spot on the first tour of the day (at the time of my visit you couldn’t buy tickets online, so it was first-come first served to a limited amount of spots).

Newgrange and Knowth can only be visited on guided tours that leave by shuttle bus from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. To see Dowth, you can drive yourself directly to the site, but there is no public access inside the tomb.

At the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre there are two tours of Knowth and Newgrange available- one that includes access to the chamber at Newgrange and one that visits the exterior of the tombs only. The Newgrange chamber tour is most popular and takes about 2 hours 45 minutes.

When it’s time for your tour, you’ll leave the visitor centre and walk across a bridge to the shuttle bus stop. After boarding the bus, it’s a short drive to either tomb site.

If you’re doing the combined tour, you’ll first visit Knowth then be driven back to the lot to catch a bus to Newgrange. In my experience, everything was timed pretty well and I didn’t wait long for the bus to leave for Newgrange.

Visiting Knowth

Knowth is the largest passage grave at Brú na Bóinne. It consists of one large mound, covering about 1.5 acres, and 18 smaller mounds clustered around it. The large mound is estimated to have been built around 3200 BC.

Inside the main mound are two separate passage tombs, one with an entrance facing east and the other entrance facing west. During our tour we got to go inside the mound and look down the eastern passage. We couldn’t follow it into the chamber because the passage has caved inwards in places, making access difficult. It’s unfortunate because I would have liked to see the beehive shaped roof and basin stones that held remains of the dead.

A nice alternative to seeing the inner chamber was getting to walk on top of the mound. Such a special place to enjoy a panorama of the Boyne Valley!

Another highlight of my tour of Knowth was getting to see the impressive collection of megalithic art. The kerbstones that surround the base of the large mound are decorated with spirals, serpents, lozenges, crescent shapes, and other images.

After the guided tour, we had some free time to wander around the site. There was something about Knowth that had me captivated, even though it’s not the most famous tomb at Brú na Bóinne. From the different mounds, megalithic art, countryside views, and remains of a timber monument, there was a lot to admire and contemplate at Knowth, making it my favourite of the tombs at Brú na Bóinne.

Visiting Newgrange

Newgrange is the most famous Irish passage tomb. It consists of one circular mound measuring 80 m across and dates back to 3200 BC. The base is ringed with 97 kerbstones, but unlike Knowth, the exterior features a revetment wall of white quartz stones.

The best part of visiting Newgrange is getting to go inside the chamber. Before entering, my guide explained the significance of the entrance stone and its beautiful Neolithic art, as well as the “roof box” opening above the passage entryway.

Once inside the tomb, we had to walk down a narrow, stone-lined passage to get to the chamber.

The chamber is cross-shaped with a corbelled roof rising 6 meters above the floor. There are three recesses with basin stones that were used to hold the remains of the dead. During the excavation of Newgrange, the cremated remains of five people were found, along with some pendants and polished stone balls that were placed with the dead.

One of the most impressive features of Newgrange is its alignment with the winter solstice. At dawn on December 21, the rising sunlight shines through the roof box to illuminate the inner chamber.

To illustrate this phenomenon, my guide turned off the main light in the chamber then turned on another light that mimics a shaft of sun coming through the roof box and into the chamber. It was perfect alignment!

The winter solstice was important to the Neolithic culture of the Boyne Valley not only because it marked the start of a new year, but was also seen as a promise of new life for the spirits of the dead.

Final Thoughts About Visiting Newgrange and Knowth

I saw plenty of ancient sites during my 2 week road trip in Ireland but nothing that was quite like the Brú na Bóinne passage tombs.

Both tombs had an earthy, simplistic beauty, even though their construction and artistry were far more sophisticated than they looked.

I’m really glad I decided to tour both tombs because they were completely different experiences. At Newgrange, there were more people but less things to see, with just the one large mound. Since only a few people can go into the tomb at a time, there was some waiting around. It was worth it though because the chamber was quite fascinating.

At Knowth, there were only 5 of us on the tour (in October), so it was easier to hear the guide. Since there were more mounds and other things of interest, I felt like I learned more and spent more time exploring compared to Newgrange.

While both tombs are special for different reasons, I ended up preferring Knowth. So, if you’re wondering whether to visit just Newgrange or Knowth as well, I’d say see both. Together they make up one of the best ancient sites in Ireland !

Tips for Visiting Brú na Bóinne

Location: Brú na Bóinne is located near the village of Donore (County Meath). It’s about a 40 minute (50 km) drive from Dublin and 13 minutes (8 km) from Drogheda.

Access: Newgrange and Knowth can only be accessed through the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. Do not use GPS to drive directly to the monuments as you will be turned away and directed to the visitor centre to buy tickets.

Tickets: There is a limited amount of tickets each day and tours regularly sell out, especially during the summer season. Depending on the type of ticket/tour you want, you may be able to book in advance (some admission tickets are available on a first come first served basis). To avoid disappointment, I recommend pre-booking your tickets online here , or arriving at least 15 minutes before opening time so you can be one of the first in line.

Tours: There are three tour/ticket options for visiting Brú na Bóinne. Tours leave approximately every 15 minutes.

• Visitor Centre Exhibition – does not include a tour of the monuments. Tickets can’t be booked in advance.
• Brú na Bóinne Tour Plus Newgrange Chamber- includes a visit to Knowth and Newgrange, a guided tour of the chamber at Newgrange, and access to the visitor centre exhibitions. Tickets must be pre-booked.
• Brú na Bóinne Tour Outside Only- includes a visit to the exterior of Knowth and Newgrange and the visitor centre exhibitions. Tickets aren’t available for pre-booking (first come first served).

Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre: For up to date information on operating hours, admission fees, and other practicalities visit this site.

Information was updated March 2022, but can change without notice. Please confirm directly with the venue.

Tours to Newgrange

Here is a trusted site that has tours to Newgrange from Dublin:

• Private Boyne Valley and Trim Castle Day Tour

Accommodations Near Brú na Bóinne

For your convenience, here is a list of hotels and B&Bs in Donore , Drogheda, and Dublin . Please consider booking your Ireland accommodations through the included link. It costs nothing extra and helps support this website. Thank you!

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• Travel Forum

Newgrange tour

My husband and I are interested in going on the newGrange tour from Dublin on our free day before our Rick Steves tour begins. However, we are finding that the tours we’ve looked into don’t get back until 530 and we need to be back for the 5 o’clock meeting to start our tour. Does anyone know of any Newgrange tour that gets back to Dublin before 5 o’clock?

Can you fly in a day earlier?

If you search in google for "half day newgrange tours," you will find some that leave early in the morning and return in the early afternoon. I did the excellent Mary Gibbons tour but that is a full day.

Because we booked our Ireland trip shortly before going, there were no spots available with the Mary Gibbons tour to Newgrange. We looked on the Newgrange site and saw that there were only four tickets left for the days we could go. We purchased the tickets and then found a private driver that would take us. We really didn't want to drive ourselves. It was pricier than Mary Gibbons, but was the only option left for us. A private driver will accommodate your schedule. They basically created a tour for us around our ticket time and other places we had an interest in.

We greatly enjoyed the Mary Gibbons tour. Website says Sat/Sunday tours return to Dublin at 3:15.

https://www.newgrangetours.com/book-a-tour

I ran into the same trouble and she is booked up for all the days I will be ahead of the RS tour. Other similar companies are full too. When are you going? Maybe other people on the RS tour that are coming in a early might be interested in it and you all do a private tour.

@Holly what was the name of the private driver and cost? We might have to to look into doing that as well.

In 2019 I used Beautiful Meath (County Meath is where Newgrange is located) to take us to Glendalough, Powerscourt and Avoca. The company is now called Custom Irish Tours. The owner, Derek, is the same. Here's the website: https://www.customirishtours.com/ . Derek had been recommended to me by Lisa Tully, who is or was a RS guide.

I posted in a response to someone else that you can do it on your own. You can take the train to drogheda from Dublin and then get a taxi to the bru na boinne visitor center. I had a 10:45 reservation and was back in Dublin by about 2: 45.

@annemargaret thank you for the information. For clarification. This would be the route a map link https://goo.gl/maps/SBAepiDQwHRvYAUZ6 From Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre website you buy tickets and would get a tour. The leap card is not included in this correct. How do I purchase transportation for the commuter service.

You have to book tickets and they can only be booked 30 days before. You can't just turn up on the day without a ticket.

https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/bru-na-boinne-visitor-centre-newgrange-and-knowth/

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Newgrange & Boyne Valley

8hrs | €590

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Suitable for:

All ages, small private group

The Boyne Valley, Birthplace of Ireland’s Ancient East, is a place steeped in history.

Official guided tours to newgrange and knowth passage tombs begin at the brú na bóinne visitor center and, from there, visitors are taken by shuttle bus to the sites. these are unesco world heritage sites where you will join others on the official tours..

We will meet you after the Brú na Boínne Visitor Experience tours of Newgrange and Knowth have finished and drive you in comfort onwards to your next location, the Hill of Slane where in 433AD Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick, lit an Easter Paschal fire in defiance of Tara’s pagan King Laoghaire. Your final destination will be the royal Hill of Tara, the inauguration site of the High Kings of Ireland. The name, Tara, comes from Teamhair na Rí or ‘Sanctuary of the Kings’.

Tour Highlights

• Visit the megalithic passage tombs at Newgrange and Knowth with the on-site guide. These are UNESCO World Heritage sites so you will be joining others on the official tour.
• Hill of Slane – A scend to the summit rising above the medieval village of Slane where St. Patrick lit the Paschal fire in 433 AD.
• Hill of Tara – Climb the seat of the High Kings of Ireland and look out over stunning scenery as far as the eye can see. After a wonderful day, Boyne Valley Tours will drive you back to your accommodation in a private vehicle.

Make a booking today!

When you book with Boyne Valley Tours, you will experience over 5,000 years of Irish culture and history, plus breath-taking scenery.

• Phone within Ireland:  087 8354805
• International or WhatsApp:  +353 87 8354805
• USA/Canada: 011 353 87 8354805

Boyne Valley Tours will provide private transportation to the Boyne Valley with a personal tour guide.

Newgrange is open throughout the year; however, some other sites may be closed during the winter months. In such cases, alternative sites will be arranged.

With all of our Boyne Valley Private Tours, we are happy to recommend lunch and coffee stops on the day (please note meals are not included in tour prices).

We look forward to welcoming you!

Admission fees, meals.

• Full refund or future credit if the tour is canceled up to 30 days before a tour.
• 50% refund between 30 days and 10 days before a tour.
• No refund will be issued within 10 days of a tour.

The itinerary can be customized even while on tour! In case you have any particular interest, let me know so we can adapt it!

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When you book with Boyne Valley Tours you will experience over 5,000 years of Irish Culture and History. Choose from our tours across the Boyne Valley as well as popular Wicklow Tours and Highlights.

Boyne Valley Castles & Abbeys

Wicklow Gardens & Scenery

Meath Megalithic Sites

Book a private tour.

Email: [email protected]   | Phone within Ireland: 087 8354805   | International or WhatsApp: +353 87 8354805   | USA/Canada: 011 353 87 8354805

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Purchase newgrange and knowth tickets, day tours by bus from dublin, private day tours, ireland's ancient east.

Private Tour to Newgrange and the Hill of Tara

Discover newgrange's timeless enigma, the hill of tara: ireland's royal seat, your exclusive experience, a journey beyond the ordinary, boyne valley private day tour.

South Carolina beats Iowa to cement its place in women’s basketball history

CLEVELAND – Raven Johnson skipped over to Dawn Staley, toothy smile beaming, ponytail bobbing behind her, for a moment of celebration. This was exactly what she wanted. The revenge tour was officially over.

The South Carolina point guard wanted to quit basketball a year ago, and now confetti rained down on her and her teammates. Staley, now with three NCAA women’s championships, tied for the fourth most by any coach in the sport, simply turned to the crowd and extended her arms wide.

Not only did the Gamecocks win their third national championship since 2017 with an 87-75 victory Sunday over Iowa – the team that beat them in a national semifinal last year – they ensured they will be remembered as one of the most dominant teams in history after competing a perfect 38-0 season, becoming the 10th women’s team to win a title without a loss.

“I did want to see them in the national championship this year because of what happened last year,” Johnson said. “Like I said, it was a revenge tour. And there’s no better way than to play them in the championship and beat them.”

Tears streamed down Staley’s face as she conducted an interview on the court after the final buzzer, clad in a silver designer jacket. Soon after, standing on a stage to receive the championship trophy, she leaned her head back, closed her eyes and reached toward the sky. Her team danced as music blared from overhead and a second round of confetti blotted out sightlines. “Motownphilly” by the Philadelphia R&B group Boyz II Men played while Staley, a Philadelphia native, cut the net.

“Since the first day I got to South Carolina, she’s been working so hard to get me ready and prepared for moments like this,” said Kamilla Cardoso, who was named the Final Four’s most outstanding player after finishing with 15 points and 17 rebounds Sunday. “I’m just so thankful to have her as a coach. She’s the best in the business.”

The Gamecocks seemed to be in trouble early Sunday, when Iowa scored the first 10 points of the game and Caitlin Clark looked to be en route to one of the best championship game performances ever. The all-time leading scorer in college basketball scored 18 points in the first quarter, the most in any quarter of a national championship game. Before South Carolina stabilized and responded with an 11-2 run late in the quarter, its 20-9 deficit was the largest it had faced all season.

A year ago, Johnson went viral when Clark refused to guard her on the perimeter, dismissing her with a wave as the Hawkeyes spoiled what had been another undefeated season on the way to the championship game. Now, in the waning seconds of the first half Sunday, Clark stood dribbling the clock down, waiting for a final shot. That’s when Johnson pounced. In the blink of an eye, the Atlanta native made her move and stripped the face of college basketball, going the other way for a layup to give South Carolina a 49-46 halftime lead. The Gamecocks never trailed the rest of the game.

“For Raven, I think it was psychologically helpful to be able to play Iowa and Caitlin, to just release,” Staley said. “As a player, you want to release certain things that have held you captive. And I do think the waving off in the Final Four last year held her captive, to where usually you just quietly do things and go about your business. Raven’s got the bullhorn saying this is revenge tour, this is this, this is that. Then for her to actually lock in and play Caitlin the way we needed her to play her … it’s pretty cool that she was able to just kind of check off a goal and move forward.”

Beyond Cardoso and Johnson, freshman Tessa Johnson repeatedly hit clutch shots in the biggest moments for a team-high 19 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Chloe Kitts finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Nine different Gamecocks scored, and their depth was overwhelming: They held a 37-0 advantage in bench points. Iowa also had no answer for South Carolina’s size and was outrebounded 51-29, allowing 18 offensive rebounds and 30 second-chance points.

“Finishing national runner-up two years in a row is an amazing feat,” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. “Nobody thought we were going to be here at the beginning of the year, so that makes it pretty special.”

Clark finished with 30 points in her final college game and is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft next week. But after Clark’s fast start, the South Carolina defense, with Raven Johnson relishing the assignment for much of the night, clamped down in the second half and held the Hawkeyes to just 29 points after the break.

“It’s certainly been a special year,” Clark said. “To be honest, after last year I was kind of, like, how do we top doing what we did last year? Somehow, some way, every single person in our locker room believed. To be honest, this year was probably more special than last year.

“There’s going to be tears. It is sad this is all over, and this is the last time I’m going to put on an Iowa jersey.”

Staley has led South Carolina to four consecutive Final Fours, but this particular championship seemed to elicit more emotions than previous ones. The loss to Iowa last year stung, because the group of “Freshies” that included No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston and three other WNBA draftees was unable to complete its undefeated season. Five starters departed that team, and Staley had to rely on a much younger group that was stepping into new and more significant roles. Now the Gamecocks are the first team to win a title by going undefeated since Connecticut in 2016. Boston was on the court crying and hugging Cardoso after time expired, and the program is now 109-3 the past three seasons.

“It’s heavy,” Staley said, acknowledging that last year’s loss made this game even more emotional. “You carry the burden of every single one of your players, all the coaches and staff members that put so much into our team. And it’s a heavy load to be undefeated, to finish the job.

“It means that we have quietly done things, in my opinion, the right way.”

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Janet Jackson Returns to Japan for Triumphant Together Again Tour Chronicling Legendary Career

The concerts in Nagoya, Osaka and Yokohama also featured TLC as the special guest only in Japan.

By Billboard Japan

Billboard Japan

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Janet Jackson returned to Japan for the first time in five years for her 2024 Together Again Tour, making stops in Nagoya, Osaka and Yokohama. At her K Arena Yokohama show on March 20, the icon treated the packed crowd to a nonstop 90-minute spectacle of her career-spanning, hits-filled set.

The concerts also featured TLC as the special guest only in Japan, and tickets were sold out in all three cities.

Janet Jackson’s Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits

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As the DJ hyped up the crowd with a “T-L-C!” call and response, T-Boz and Chilli appeared onstage accompanied by four dancers and opened the set with their debut single “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg.” With Chilli’s vocals overlapping with T-Boz’s deep voice during the chorus, the two also performed with the late Left Eye during the rap part, bringing the voice of the third member who died in a tragic accident in 2002 along for the ride. Chilli thanked fans in between songs for celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of the group’s hit album CrazySexyCool , and after a DJ break, the two members returned to perform a few more hits including one of their biggest, “No Scrubs,” to huge cheers from the crowd. Led by a gorgeous horn arrangement, the pair closed their set with “Waterfalls,” as Chili and the dancers danced beautifully to the Left Eye’s rap. The audience cheered loudly, clapping along with the beat, and enthusiastically responded in unison to the “T-L-C!” call and response at the end of the set to express their appreciation.

The crowd went wild when Janet performed “That’s the Way Love Goes” from her eponymous hit album from 1993. Families with children could be seen here and there in the audience, and it was clear that the concert was a space where the pop icon’s timeless music was being passed down from the generation who lived through the same era as the hitmaker to the next generation of fans.

The concert was divided into four acts, and Janet took the stage in the second decked in a broad-brimmed black hat and long, ruffled black skirt. The second section consisted mostly of songs from her 1986 album Control , including “What Have You Done for Me Lately,” “Nasty,” and “The Pleasure Principle,” and the songstress captivated the audience with vocals and dynamic choreography set to the big beat and scratches by the DJ. She removed her hat and skirt and performed the majority of this act in wide pants along with four dancers dressed in white.

“Now I’m going to take you back,” she said with a grin. “Way back. Bass!” With her cue, the familiar, catchy bass line of “When I Think of You,” began, and she continued, “Back to 1986. This was my first No. 1 song. I was just a baby. But I still look good!” Towards the end of the act, she slowed things down to perform some of her most famous ballads seated on the stage, including “Come Back to Me,” “Let’s Wait Awhile,” and “Again.” Janet encouraged the Yokohama audience to sing along with her on “Again” with her mic raised towards the crowd, and seemed genuinely moved by the rousing sing-along by her fans in Japan.

The fourth and final act featured songs from Rhythm Nation 1814 , with Janet performing tracks such as “Miss You Much,” “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” and “Alright” rocking a casual T-shirt and jeans get-up as if she were out on the street. The hits from 1989 blending delicate melodies with edgy sounds have stood the test of time, dynamically shaking the hearts and bodies of those witnessing them live.

Then suddenly, the venue went dark and white noise filled the screens. Cued by an all-too-familiar scream, the band began rocking out as the late Michael Jackson’s voice and image appeared majestically on the screens for the brother-sister duet “Scream.” Deafening shouts erupt from the audience as Michael continues to sing his part in the Sci-Fi-inspired, black-and-white music video, later joined by his sister’s live vocals onstage. Janet faced the guitarist towards the end of the song in what looked like a tribute to her late older brother. The voltage in K Arena peaked as the band segued into “Rhythm Nation” and Janet performed the iconic choreography with her dancers surrounded by intensely flashing lighting and beats, ending the main set with an impressive shout.

— This article by Takayuki Okamoto first appeared on Billboard Japan

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Inside Tim Robinson’s ‘I Think You Should Leave’ Tour: Unaired Sketches, Paul Rudd and Why Patrick Stewart Turned Down a Role

By Ethan Shanfeld

Ethan Shanfeld

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SPOILER ALERT: This story contains minor spoilers of Tim Robinson ‘s “ I Think You Should Leave ” live show, including general descriptions of unaired sketches .

“I Think You Should Leave” went live Tuesday, April 2, when creators Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin brought their beloved Netflix sketch comedy series to the stage at New York’s Beacon Theatre.

Nearly 3,000 fans showed up for the mysterious, sold-out show, many of them revealing their allegiance to the comedy cult with Dan Flashes button-downs and Corncob TV tees — if you know, you know — and yelling out lines from “I Think You Should Leave” that have been immortalized in gifs and memes.  

Brooks Wheelan, who overlapped with Robinson and Kanin during their time on “Saturday Night Live,” opened the show with five minutes of stand-up before a giant screen began playing an extended version of “Has This Ever Happened to You?,” a sketch from the first episode of “I Think You Should Leave,” in which Robinson plays a low-tier attorney advertising to people who have been bizarrely wronged by a pair of exterminators.

Then, to much fanfare, Robinson and Kanin took the stage, which was designed like a living room, and explained the format of the night. They would bring out special guests to watch sketches that were scrapped from the series and determine whether they should have made the cut. Spoiler alert: every sketch was met with a baffled, unanimous: “Why didn’t you put that in?” Oh, and there was also a bird mascot named Tori, who would prance onstage and harass them every half hour.

It’s a classic “I Think You Should Leave” sketch reminiscent of “Job Interview,” in which Robinson goes to great lengths to prove a push door actually goes both ways. The audience went wild for “Done Deal,” and Richardson’s verdict was: “It should have been in the program.”

The next guest was Seth Meyers, who jokingly assured Robinson and Kanin that he fought hard for their ideas as head writer of “SNL” before ribbing them about a “Jurassic Park” sketch they pitched, which “would have been great for 1993.” Then they screened the next unaired sketch, which was ironically not the only one of the night that involved dinosaurs. “Dino Talk” is honestly hard to explain, but it involves a strange man attending a lecture while playing mind games with the random people seated next to him, played by Kanin and “The Bear” star Lionel Boyce.

Meyers said of the sketch, “There’s a lot I like,” and pointed out that the reason they probably didn’t include it in the show is because, like “Focus Group,” it includes a guy with an unplaceable accent messing with Kanin. Robinson said they initially offered the main part to Sir Patrick Stewart, but he didn’t understand the concept and passed. “He’s dead to me,” joked Robinson.

Patti Harrison, another recurring favorite on “I Think You Should Leave,” came out next to discuss “Movie Set,” in which Robinson and Richardson play bickering background extras on the set of a horror movie. Robinson’s job is to deliver a burger to Richardson, who makes a bold creative choice to do a “stinky” gesture when handed the food in each take. This, obviously, really upsets Robinson, and the pair begin arguing through their teeth. 

Robinson’s rationale for not putting “Movie Set” in the series was that it’s “too hard to understand,” to which Meyers laughed: “You have literally the most challenging sketch show ever made. Your audience will follow you anywhere.”

The next guest was Bruce Buckles, whom Robinson introduced as a random improv student in New York trying to break into the business. He said he is the founder of a new improv company called Buckle Up Comedy, which doesn’t yet have a physical space. As the night went on, Buckles fawned over the onstage talent and backhandedly praised Meyers as one of the “Top 3 Weekend Update hosts.”

His addition seemed appropriately bizarre, dosing the audience with a fair amount of uncomfortable laughter. But it turns out — and I’m sorry to shatter the illusion — that Buckles is just a character played by comedic actor-writer Brendan Jennings. I know this because his performance was so believable that after the show I had to research whether Buckles was real.

Of the remaining unaired sketches, there was “Event Space Walkthrough,” in which Robinson must fake a phone call but has no idea how to; “Dino Guy,” which casts Robinson as a paleo-enthusiast who goes to war against a little kid playing with toy dinosaurs; and “Barney’s,” which stars Biff Wiff as a disgruntled diner owner who, in order to drum up business, renames menu items to stuff like “Big Bra Water” and “Eyes Roll Back in My Head Blowjob Burger.” (Robinson said that last one didn’t make the cut because “the jokes seemed too obvious.” The audience disagreed.)

Guest after guest praised each sketch, and Robinson and Kanin hilariously failed to come up with a single good reason why they were cut from the show. As laughter roared from the balconies, you could almost sense a slight tinge of regret on the co-creators’ faces.

Still, exhibiting unseen sketches in front of an audience with celebrities providing live commentary — rather than, say, throwing them up on YouTube — is pretty genius. By letting us peek into the “I Think You Should Leave” vault, Robinson and Kanin deepen the show’s lore, building the comedy equivalent of B-sides and rarities. It won’t be long before die-hard fans declare their favorite sketch as the extended cut of “Has This Ever Happened to You?” — or the second unreleased one about dinosaurs. And it’s only a matter of time before bootleg iPhone videos of the sketches trickle onto Reddit and Twitter, and the jokes rot fans’ vocabularies.

Before the night ended, Robinson and Kanin screened an extended version of “He Layeth on High,” starring the late Fred Willard as a funeral organist, plus a clip from an unreleased sketch about a dance competition show that eliminates contestants who check their pockets to make sure their wallets haven’t fallen out. Wrapping up with the help of comedian and musician Whitmer Thomas, Robinson led the Beacon in a karaoke singalong to the fan-favorite power ballad “Friday Night.”

It’s curious that “I Think You Should Leave” has yet to be renewed for a fourth season by Netflix. Given the show’s low budget and treasure trove of unreleased material, Ted Sarandos should be begging Robinson and Kanin for more episodes — and maybe he is! But the day of the live show, it was announced that the comedy duo landed an HBO pilot order for their series “The Chair Company,” about a man who finds himself investigating a far-reaching conspiracy at work, and a couple of years ago they sold another pilot to the network called “Computer School.”

Robinson and Kanin are busy, and they may or may not choose to return to the world of “I Think You Should Leave.” But if the live tour proves anything, it’s that there are legions of fans clamoring for more sketches, and that even the leftovers knock it out of the park.

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Beyoncé’s Country Is America: Every Bit of It

On the bold, sprawling “Cowboy Carter,” the superstar plays fast and loose — and twangy — with genre.

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By Jon Pareles

The first song on “Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé’s not-exactly-country album, makes a pre-emptive strike. “It’s a lot of talking going on while I sing my song,” she observes in “Ameriican Requiem” over guitar strums and electric sitar, adding, “It’s a lot of chatter in here.”

That’s an acknowledgment that a pop superstar’s job now extends well beyond creating and performing songs. In the era of streaming and social media, Beyoncé knows that her every public appearance and utterance will be scrutinized, commented on, cross-referenced, circulated as clickbait and hot-taked in both good faith and bad. Every phrase and image are potential memes and hyperlinks.

It’s a challenge she has engaged head-on since she released her visual album “Beyoncé” in 2013. For the last decade, even as her tours have filled stadiums, she has set herself goals outside of generating hits. Beyoncé has deliberately made each of her recent albums not only a musical performance but also an argument: about power, style, history, family, ambition, sexuality, bending rules. They’re albums meant to be discussed and footnoted, not just listened to.

“Cowboy Carter” is an overstuffed album, 27 tracks maxing out the 79-minute capacity of a CD and stretching across two LPs. It flaunts spoken-word co-signs from Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton that interrupt its flow; it includes some fragmentary, minute-long songs. Its sprawl is its own statement of confidence: that even half-finished experiments are worth attention.

The “Cowboy Carter” album cover is an opening salvo, brandishing western and American symbols: Beyoncé holding an American flag while riding a white horse sidesaddle, with platinum-blond hair proudly streaming. In a red-white-and-blue outfit, high-heeled boots and a pageant sash that reads “Cowboy Carter,” she’s a beauty queen and a white-hatted heroine claiming her nation — her country, in both senses. The politics of her new songs are vague and glancing, but the music insists that every style is her American birthright. As a pop star it is: Pop has always breached stylistic boundaries, constantly exploiting subcultures to annex whatever might make a song catchier.

Beyoncé grew up in Texas, where country music has long mingled with styles from jazz to blues to hip-hop — and where, in fact, early cowboys were enslaved Black men . Beyoncé met a racial backlash when she performed “Daddy Lessons,” a country song from her 2016 album “Lemonade” about gun-toting self-defense, with the (then-Dixie) Chicks at the 2016 Country Music Association Awards. Presumably that’s what she alluded to when she wrote on Instagram that there was “an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed.”

She wasn’t daunted. Instead she pushed further, and the mere prospect of Beyoncé releasing a country album stirred things up. Even before its release, “Cowboy Carter” prompted reminders of country’s obscured Black roots — like the African origins of the banjo and the genre’s long cross-pollination with the blues — and pointed at, yet again, its historical exclusion of nonwhite performers, despite a handful of exceptions like Martell, Charley Pride and, more recently, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton and Kane Brown.

What Beyoncé drew from country is productions that feature hand-played instruments — guitars, keyboards, drums — rather than the programmed beats and glittering electronics that propelled her 2022 album “Renaissance,” which also had Beyoncé on horseback on the cover and was subtitled “Act I.” That album was Beyoncé’s time-warped, multilayered homage to the electronic dance music that emerged from Black gay subcultures. “Cowboy Carter,” subtitled “Act II,” also scrambles eras and styles, with samples, electronics and multitracked vocal harmonies unapologetically joining the guitars.

The advance singles from “Cowboy Carter” paired “16 Carriages,” a booming arena-country song about Beyoncé’s industrious career and artistic drive, with the foot-stomping, banjo-picking “Texas Hold ’Em,” about enjoying Texas-style good times away from home. “Texas Hold ’Em” seized No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to do so, and topped the all-genre Hot 100.

If Beyoncé had merely wanted to make mainstream country hits, she could have hired a seasoned Nashville producer and had her pick of expert Music Row songwriters. But “Cowboy Carter” has different aspirations, and Beyoncé brought her own brain trust, including producers known for hip-hop and R&B. “This ain’t a Country album. This is a Beyoncé album,” she wrote on Instagram. That’s true.

“Cowboy Carter” leans into its anticipated discourse, openly interrogating categories and stereotypes and pointedly ignoring formulas. With historical savvy, Beyoncé enlisted Linda Martell — the Black country singer whose 1970 album, “Color Me Country,” included the first charting country hit by a Black woman, “Color Him Father” — to provide spoken words. For the intro of “Spaghettii” — which features Beyoncé rapping — Martell says, “Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they? Yes, they are. In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand. But in practice, well, some may feel confined.”

Beyoncé gathers young Black women currently striving for country careers — Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tiera Kennedy and Tanner Adell — on a remake of the Beatles’ veiled civil-rights song, “Blackbird.” It’s a careful gesture, though it might have been more substantial to write a new song with them.

The album includes some understated, largely acoustic contenders for country or adult-contemporary radio play — notably “II Most Wanted,” a duet with Miley Cyrus that harks back to Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” and “Levii’s Jeans,” a boast about being a “sexy little thing” that she shares with a besotted Post Malone. In the steady-thumping, Motown-tinged “Bodyguard,” Beyoncé plays an amorous, jealous but selfless partner in an uncertain romance. And in “Protector,” an acoustic-guitar lullaby, Beyoncé personifies a loving, supportive parent singing about “lifting you up so you will be raised.”

Beyoncé also reworks Parton’s “Jolene” — a country classic about a dangerous temptress — by turning it inside out. Where Parton’s 1973 original had her “begging” Jolene to stay away, in 2024 Beyoncé isn’t one to cede power. She starts out by “warning” Jolene and raises the threat level from there, reminding her target, “I know I’m a queen.”

Martell returns to introduce “Ya Ya,” explaining, “This particular tune stretches across a range of genres. And that’s what makes it a unique listening experience.” The song is a hand clapping, 1960s-flavored garage-rock stomp that samples Nancy Sinatra, quotes the Beach Boys and brandishes lines like “There’s a whole lot of red in that white and blue/History can’t be erased,” then moves on to dancing and lust. It’s not geared for any radio format. It’s just a romp.

It’s the odder, genre-fluid songs that give the album its depth. “Just for Fun” — a hymnlike duet with Willie Jones, a Louisiana songwriter who draws on country and R&B — plunges into Beyoncé’s somber low register as she sings, “I need to get through this/Or just get used to it.” “Riiverdance” deploys intertwined Celtic-tinged guitars and close-harmony backup vocals to sketch an enigmatic relationship that encompasses murder and resurrection and weekend seductions. And “II Hands II Heaven” is equally cryptic and celebratory; using an electronic pulse drawn from Underworld’s “Born Slippy (Nuxx),” it has Beyoncé and backup voices singing about whiskey, coyotes, God, sex and “Lost virgins with broken wings that will regrow.”

Beyoncé has been a stalwart of the full-length album, sequencing and juxtaposing songs in synergistic ways. But “Cowboy Carter” is a bumpier ride than “Renaissance,” “Lemonade” or “Beyoncé.” It suggests that Beyoncé wanted to pack all she could into one side trip before moving on elsewhere. Perhaps she’s already immersed in Act III.

Beyoncé “Cowboy Carter” (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia)

Jon Pareles has been The Times’s chief pop music critic since 1988. He studied music, played in rock, jazz and classical groups and was a college-radio disc jockey. He was previously an editor at Rolling Stone and the Village Voice. More about Jon Pareles