Customer Reviews

Newgrange and the Bend of the Boyne (Irish Rural Landscapes)

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Outstanding historical book for this area. Beautiful photos and illustrations. A great bargin to buy through
Amazon.

This book offers fascinating insights into the mysteries of this iconic symbol of ancient Ireland and its peoples. Anyone who has ever visited this remarkable place, or ever wanted to visit will benefit from reading this engrossing book. Like a novel, it is difficult to put down. If you ever wished for a visit to Ireland, this book will become a driving force to get you there. This is not a museum survey, by any means, but the book will draw you in, and cause you to want to touch the stones, to marvel that it could have been built at all by those "primitive" people. A sense of awe, of mystery, of a determined people will entrance the reader. You'll finish reading this great book with a desire to read more, to know more, and to explore this place of history.

The Boyne River has played a major role in Irish history. St Patrick first arrived in Ireland here, and the first Cistercian Abbey was established at Mellifont. King James and King William fought a great battle. (If you visit, you may be amused, perhaps bewildered, by the confusing road signs pointing in several directions to the "Battle of the Boyne".)

Geraldine Stout is an archaeologist with the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. She assisted on the excavations at Knowth and Newgrange and has undertaken postgraduate and doctoral research on the Boyne Valley.

This volume opens with excellent map of the area with centered on Newgrange. There are many illustrations and photographs focused on geology, emphasizing features which attracted the first settlers. (Google Books shows several of the pages in this volume.)

There are 26 ancient tribal burial chambers in the Boyne River Valley; Newgrange is the finest, and Stout describes it well. The great round tomb is about 5,000 years old -- which makes it several centuries older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt and 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. Stout also provides detailed descriptions of Knowth and Dowth. There are excellent photographs, paintings, maps and diagrams of all three tunnel tombs.

Stout describes the arrival of both the Cistercians (1142) and the Normans (1169), the establishment of a number of churches and the introduction of new methods of farming.

Another chapter deals with the historical and topographical aspects of the Battle of the Boyne. Stout describes of the great estates which arose from the growing economy of the 18th century and the construction of the Boyne Navigation. A chapter deals with more modest buildings which still stand in the Bend of the Boyne. She also describes the construction of a number of pillboxes during The Emergency as a line of defense against a possible British invasion.

Stout describes some of the current battles between farming and conservation. Finally she describes how the area, and especially the astronomical discoveries related to the tombs, have inspired artists and poets.

The book is attractive and scientific, useful for preparation for a trip to Ireland or as a reminder of one of the most interesting corners of Ireland.

Robert C. Ross 2008

A very comprehensive, informative book. I had seen it in Ireland, but didn't want to carry it home. I was so happy it find it here on Amazon. The information is well presented, probably more than most people need, but it is all there. Great illustrations.

This is THE BEST book I have read about the Boyne Valley. It makes the landscape come alive. You should read it, and enjoy the photos, maps and descriptions before and after a trip there.