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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

August Saturday afternoon at Bettystown
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
In Co. Meath, north of Dublin on the Irish Sea. The Irish Sea looked more like a lake than a sea that day; it was so calm.

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Beach at Bettystown
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
On the Irish Sea, County Meath, Ireland

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Ashbourne sunset
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
At our B&B in Ashbourne, County Meath

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Doorway in Kells
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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Side street in Kells
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
County Meath, Ireland

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Another edge of Newgrange
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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Threatening sky over Bettystown
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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Kells
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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Newgrange
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
Newgrange is a passage tomb, built around 3,000 BC, predating Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.

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Entrance to passage tomb
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
At Newgrange. As the sun breaks the horizon on winter solstice day, the suns rays shine in through a little square window and illuminate a long passage to fill the floor of a room in the interior of the mound.

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Gull on the beach at Bettystown
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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House in Kells
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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One of the original kerbstones at Newgrange
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
At the front entrance

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Countryside of County Meath, Ireland
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
Somewhere between Bettystown and Ashbourne.

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Garda Station in Kells
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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Side wall a Newgrange
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
The hill that contains the tomb is about 40 feet high. These side walls are about 20 feet high.

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Street Lamp in Kells
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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Newgrange sheep
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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Oratory of St. Columcille's House (11th century)
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
In Kells, right next to the garda station. St. Columcille is also known as St. Columba.

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Spiral motif on Newgrange kerbstone
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
This pattern is repeated throughout the site, inside and out. It's all along the passage way going into the interior. The passageway is very narrow. (I almost got stuck!)

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Kells Street scene
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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Kells beauty
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
On the lawn at the Kells Heritage Centre

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Newgrange interpretive sign
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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Detail from the Kells High Cross outside the Heritage Centre
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
The high crosses, which date from the 11th century or earlier, were often ornately carved with scenes from Biblical stories. I'm guessing this one might be the parable of the prodigal son.

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Newgrange Tumulus
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
As seen from the other side of the Boyne valley.

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A Boyne Valley house
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
Down the road from Newgrange

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Failte sign
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
In County Meath, Ireland

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Beach at Bettystown
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
County Meath, Ireland

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Georgian house in Kells, County Meath
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)

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Houses in Kells
© Ruth Gregory (view gallery)
In County Meath, Ireland