Newgrange Books

Discover a carefully curated collection of books on Newgrange, Knowth, and Ireland’s ancient past, offering expert insights into Neolithic archaeology, megalithic art, and prehistoric astronomy. Newgrange, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Boyne Valley, is one of the most famous Neolithic passage tombs, celebrated for its Winter Solstice alignment and mysterious origins.

Our selection includes books that delve into the history, excavation discoveries, mythology, and engineering marvels of Newgrange and its surrounding megalithic sites. Whether you're an archaeology enthusiast, history student, or a traveler fascinated by Ireland’s ancient wonders, these books provide a comprehensive understanding of one of the world’s most extraordinary prehistoric monuments.



Powerful Places in Ireland by Elyn Aviva & Gary White is not your usual guidebook. It is not about visiting places, it's about experiencing them. Boyne Valley Powerful Places included in the book: Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Lady Well at Slane Castle, Hill of Slane, Hill of Tara, Monasterboice, Rathmore Church, Balgeeth Sheela-na-gig, Fourknocks, Loughcrew, Tlachtga, Hill of Ward and St Ciaran's Well.

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Death in Irish Prehistory by Gabriel Cooney is a book about life and death over 8,500 years in Ireland. It explores the richness of the mortuary record that we have for Irish prehistory (8000 BC to AD 500) as a highlight of the archaeological record for that long period of time.

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Discovering the Boyne Valley by Noel French. The Boyne Valley is a place of history, myths and legends. This rich valley is home to some of Ireland's most famous heritage sites and monuments - Tara, Newgrange, Kells and the Battle of the Boyne site - but there are many others including Trim Castle, Loughcrew, Monasterboice and Mellifont which are major attractions in their own right. A landscape of passage tombs, sacred hills, monastic ruins, bloody battlefields and heritage towns - no wonder the Boyne Valley is considered the birthplace of Ireland's Ancient East. Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Ireland's Ancient East: A Guide to Its Historic Treasures by Neil Jackman showcases one hundred sites across Ireland's Ancient East, from Carlingford in County Louth, through the Boyne Valley of County Meath, into the heartlands of Tipperary and Kilkenny before ending up in Cork. Visit sites such as Clonmacnoise, Newgrange and the Rock of Cashel, as well as a large number of hidden gems like Athassel Priory in Tipperary, Gaulstown Dolmen in Waterford and Loughcrew Passage Tombs in Meath.

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Tara and the Ark of the Covenant by Mairéad Carew covers a search for the Ark of the Covenant by British-Israelites. They dug the Hill of Tara in their quest to find the Ark of the Covenant between the years 1899 and 1902. What were their reasons for doing so, and were they successful? And what was the "Great Irish-Hebraic-cryptogramic hieroglyph" and the Freemason connection?

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Of Druid's Altar's & Giant's Graves - The Megalithic Tombs of Ireland by Philip I Powell. Shortly before 4,000 BC, farming was introduced into Ireland and this move from the Mesolithic hunter gatherer culture to a Neolithic farming society, was the single greatest social revolution there has ever been. The most prominent remains of this early prehistoric period are the megalithic tombs, the majority of which were constructed in the 4th and 3rd millennia BC (4000-2000 BC). Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Treasures of the Boyne Valley by Peter Harbison. Well presented book on the Boyne Valley, covering it's history, the landscape and the peoples who have left their imprint since pre-history. The section on Newgrange and the other stone age sites of the Boyne Valley comprises 24 pages.

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Art through the Eyes of the Soul by Cheryl Rose-Hall. In this book of color paintings and background information on sacred sites and mythology, Cheryl shares the unique painting technique that she has developed. As a sensitive, she shares how she paints by attuning to her subjects through the eyes and spirals out from that central point. Using historical data along with her psychic impressions, she creates empowered works of art based on sacred sites and their mythology. Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
Meath: The Royal County by John Quinn with paintings by Gerry Flaherty. Meath treasures include the largest medieval castle in Ireland at Trim and the World Heritage megalithic tombs at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth in the Boyne Valley. The book is a collaboration between well-known Ballivor author and former RTE radio producer John Quinn and Navan artist Gerry Flaherty, who provides a series of oil paintings. Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

William Seven, author of Sacred Sky Sacred Bond, postulates that humanity has lost its course because humanity has lost its connection with the heavens. "For as long as men and women have walked our planet, the skies of day and night have not only been a practical tool, but also a source of divine inspiration," The oldest known Archaeoastronomical site is Newgrange in Ireland. But perhaps Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain in England is the best known. Other structures built to connect the heavens and earth include the pyramids on the Giza plateau in Egypt and the pyramids and observatories of the Maya, Inca and Aztecs in Central and South America. Amazon.com

The Boyne - A Valley of Kings by Henry Boylan. The author follows the course of the river Boyne, taking the reader on visits to the famous sites and ancient monuments at Newgrange, Tara, Kells, Monasterboice etc and giving a fascinating and lively narrative on the people, events and legends of the area.

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Outposts of Celtica: History and Heroes of the Celtic World by J.P. MacLean. The surviving Celtic world of today, though vibrant and engaging in itself, is only a remnant of the culture that once dominated most of Europe and parts of Asia. From the Anatolian plains in present day Turkey to the Highlands of Scotland, the tribal Celts reigned supreme across this vast expanse for over four hundred years. More ...

Pre-Christian Ireland - From the First Settlers to the Early Celts by Peter Harbison. Although one of the last corners of Europe to have been settled by man, Ireland is particularly rich in prehistoric remains. The great passage-tomb of Newgrange, dating to the fourth millennium BC, has become internationally famous since the discovery of its orientation towards the rising sun at the winter solstice, and excavations at the neighbouring tomb of Knowth have given unprecedented insight into the wealth of Irish megalithic art. Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
On Ancient Roads: Recollections, History and Folklore of County Meath by Anthony Holten. On Ancient Roads is a lively tale which takes the reader on a journey through history and the radically changing landscape of County Meath. Tony Holten describes the landscape as it was, highlighting what has been lost to 'progress'. Illustrated with over 100 photographs and maps, the book traces the evolution of the road network, reflecting on a lost landscape that was once the crucible of ancient Irish culture. Purchase On Ancient Roads.
Inside the Neolithic Mind: Consciousness, Cosmos and the Realm of the Gods by David Lewis-Williams and David Pearce. An exploration of how brain structure and cultural content interacted in the Neolithic period 10,000 years ago to produce unique life patterns and belief systems. What do the headless figures found in the famous paintings at Catalhoyuk in Turkey have in common with the interlinked spirals carved on the monumental tombs at Newgrange and Knowth in Ireland? How can the concepts of "birth," "death," and "wild" cast light on the changes in relationships between people and animals? Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
Spirit Stones, Unraveling the Megalithic Mysteries of Western Europe's Prehistoric Monuments by Dianne Ebertt Beeaff. Spirit Stones unearths society's ancient lessons; their secrets long-buried in the relics of the Neolithic Era and Bronze Age civilizations. Sharing both the pragmatic and spiritual significance of Western Europe's prehistoric stone monuments, stone circles and burial chambers, Beeaff challenges readers to reflect on humanity's common ancestry, culture and connection. Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Irish Passage Graves: Neolithic tomb-builders in Ireland and Britain 2500 B.C by Michael Herity. Published in 1974 by Irish University Press, Dublin, Ireland. The book presents a description of the tombs, art, burials and grave-goods, and then attempts a reconstruction of the everyday life of their builders: subsistence, habitations, technology, even the industries of this remarkable people, the remains of whose civilization we call the Boyne Culture. Purchase at Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
Historical Fiction Books

• Bending The Boyne, ca. 2200 BCE by J.S. Dunn.
• Spirit Mound by Richard F. Fleck.
• The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd.
• Winter solstice - A Novel by Lucy Costigan.
• The Stonehenge Scrolls by K.P. Robbins.
• Conan & The Mystical, Magical Light Of Loughcrew.

Newgrange stands as one of Ireland’s most iconic prehistoric monuments, a masterpiece of Neolithic engineering and astronomical precision. Whether you're captivated by its Winter Solstice alignment, intricate megalithic art, or its deep-rooted connections to Irish mythology, these books provide a wealth of knowledge from leading experts and researchers. Ideal for archaeology enthusiasts, history lovers, and travelers, this collection offers unparalleled insights into the Boyne Valley’s ancient wonders.

Boyne Valley Private Day Tour

Immerse yourself in the rich heritage and culture of the Boyne Valley with our full-day private tours. Visit Newgrange World Heritage site, explore the Hill of Slane, where Saint Patrick famously lit the Paschal fire. Discover the Hill of Tara, the ancient seat of power for the High Kings of Ireland. Book Now