The bikes and ‘the lads’ parked up on our Summer Solstice mini road trip (Author)
Meath prides itself on being the heritage capital of Ireland, and I suppose in a way it
is, there is literally a mound or monument almost everywhere! The most famous is, of course,
the Boyne Valley Complex (Brú na Bóinne) which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We turned away from Drogheda’s centre on the Staleen Road towards Donore the
road lighting ceased, our headlights illuminated the hedge and tree-lined road that was tunnel-
like in the night. I really enjoy riding in low light conditions like these, although on a summer
evening even more so as the blossoms were still fragrant after the day’s hot sunshine, with
the low light other senses were heightened.
We pulled into the Lodge grounds and the familiar surrounds from the last bike trip
provided a reassuring sense of continuity. From the lodge, the white walls of Newgrange are
clearly visible: Newgrange (Sí an Bhrú) was originally built between c.3200 and 3100BC,
meaning that it is approximately 5,000 years old – about five hundred years older than the
current form of Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza.