Newgrange

50 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Newgrange, from 208 m² to 665,268 m² (66.53 ha, 164.39 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 17 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, or as GeoJSON or KML.

• P5RA - Rural Area (Mixed/general primary sector uses, including 'rural')
  Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027 (As Varied), Meath · 67 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 21 Aug 2026N/a

  the development will consist of the construction of a single-story agricultural shed (Approximately 355m2 - 6 bays) to be used for straw/hay/fodder and machinery storage, and all associated site works

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2661056

• 30 Oct 2025Refused

  the retention and upgrading of existing agricultural entrance to provide a domestic entrance with the closure of the existing domestic and agricultural entrances. The retention of amendments and upgrading of the existing house including an extension to the side and the conversion and incorporation of an existing farm building into the extended house, as well as septic tank and landscaping. The removal of the blockwork of the partly built shed and the retention of a new domestic shed in yard next to the farm. Retention and completion of a new agricultural farmland entrance and updating the agricultural dry bed cattle shed and machinery store. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Retention · Meath County Council, 2561166

• 16 Oct 2025N/a

  the development will consist of the retention and upgrading of agricultural entrance to residence and block up old house and yard entrance. The retention of amendments and upgrading of including an extension of farm building to living area as well as septic tank and landscaping. The removal ofthe blockwork of the partly built shed and provide new domestic shed to yard next farm. Retention and completion of new agricultural farm land entrance and updating the agricultural dry bed, small cattle shed and machinery store

  Retention · Meath County Council, 2561116

• 12 Jun 2025Refused

  the development will consist of demolition of an existing U-pvc sun room, hen house and storage shed to the rear of an existing 1930's bungalow, replaced with a new single storey rear extension to include open plan kitchen, dining area, two bedrooms, disabled toilet, hot press with storage area, back entrance hallway connecting the new rear extension to an existing lean-to building at the rear of the site, Alterations, improvements and all associated site works. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2560592

• 4 Jun 2025N/a

  the development will consist of demolition of an existing U-pvc sunroom, hen house and storage shed to the rear of an existing 1930's bungalow, replaced with a new single storey rear extension to include open plan kitchen, dining area, two bedrooms, disabled toilet, hot press with storage area, back entrance hallway connecting the new rear extension to an existing lean-too building at the rear of the site, alterations, improvements and all associated site works

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2560561

• 15 Sept 2022Conditional

  the refurbishment of an existing two storey cottage to include the construction of a two storey extension. The proposed works will include the demolition of two existing dilapidated shed buildings, decommissioning of an existing septic tank and replacement with a new wastewater treatment system, landscaped gardens and sundry other minor works. Signficant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 221208

• 29 Aug 2022N/a

  the demolition of existing prefabricated ladies, gents toilets and the construction of new ladies, gents and disabled toilet, storage area and all associated site works

  Permission · Meath County Council, 221126

• 15 Jul 2022N/a

  the demolition of existing prefabricated ladies, gents toilets and the construction of new ladies, gents and disabled toilet, storage area and all associated site works

  Permission · Meath County Council, 22944

• 15 Jan 2019Conditional

  the refurbishment of existing former tourist shop and toilets building, located to the south of the Great Passage Tomb of Newgrange, improvement of access and demolition of some existing temporary, single storey 20th Century structures. The existing Guides' hut, a former signage structure, a hut formerly used for archaeological excavations and a maintenance shed will all be demolished, including associated ancillary items, replanted with grass and made good. The existing gravel on pathways will be replaced with reinforced grass. The existing visitor entrance will be removed. The previous visitor entrance location to the south of the site will be reinstated. A new visitor pathway of reinforced grass will be provided from reinstated visitor entry point. The existing bus pull-in bay will be removed and replaced with re-instated grass verge. A new visitor waiting area and bus pull-in will be provided, including surfacing, gates, seat, fencing and hedgerow planting. The existing ESB poles at west and northwest of site will be removed. A new ESB pole will provided on the public road and an underground duct will be provided along public road and to southwest of site. The existing former tourist shop building, dated from 1960s, will be refurbished. Ancillary maintenance will be carried out to existing effluent system. The existing felt roof will be replaced with sedum green roof. The roof level will be increased by cira 750mm and fall arrest system will be provided to comply with health and safety requirements. Natural stone paving, stabilised gravel, a seat and stone bollards will be provided to exterior. New windows, doors and clerestory level glazing will be provided to improve the environmental performance of the building

  Permission · Meath County Council, LB190021

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: River Boyne and River Blackwater SAC 002299
• Special Protection Area: River Boyne and River Blackwater SPA 004232
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Crewbane Marsh 000553

Recorded monuments

• ME019-039 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Circular area defined by scarp (diam. 53m) with outer fosse. Entrance may be at E. Monument visible as a circular cropmark on aerial photograph (AHJ 65; SMR File). Cropmark of ringfort is also visible on Google Eart aerial photograph taken 12 November 2005. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007 See attached image showing cropmark of ringfort, taken from Google Earth, image captured 12 November 2005.

• ME019-041001 Passage tomb art (present location)
  Description

  This monument is depicted as a black dot on the revised 1908 edition of the OS 6-inch map where it is shown located on the S side of a field boundary running ENE-WSW. According to O'Kelly this stone was originally located 'on the headland at the edge of the field, but was pushed into the drain to get it out of the way. Immediately on the other side of the fence are three ancient mounds (ME019-040----; ME019-041----); ME019-042----)' (O'Kelly 1967, 45). This large stone (H 1.98m; Wth 1.22m; max. T 1.06m) has a broad heavy base and is flat on one face and bulbous on the other side. The top right hand corner of the flat face is decorated with 'a well-made single spiral of five revolutions, the outermost curve having a free end. To the left and below the spiral are two roughly-made devices. One of them appears to be an attempt at a simple maze pattern, the other perhaps the same or a pair of concentric circles. Below them is a serpent-like device, rather difficult to see. the serpent's head is a shallow, circular cup-mark. Slightly to the left and just below the first curve of the serpent is another shallow cup mark. Just below the latter and a little to the right of it is another simple maze pattern. Towards the bottom right, there is a single shallow cup-mark. On the back of the stone and low down is a well-made spiral of eight revolutions. Its external free end has disappeared because a small lamina has flaked off the surface. A small "satellite" circle is attached to the outer most curve at the bottom' (O'Kelly 1967, 45-6). This stone was removed from the drain and placed upright in the courtyard of the Information kiosk at Newgrange (ibid., 45). (Moore 1987, no. 296) Cross-reference with ME019-128----. See attached photographs taken from O'Kelly 1967, Pl. 2 Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 15 November 2014

• ME019-044001 Cursus
  Description

  Raised U-shaped area running N-S, defined by scarps (L c. 100m, W c. 20m) visible on aerial photographs (AJO 96; AYM 74 SMR File) (O'Kelly 1978, 48). Monument visible on Google Earth aerial photograph taken 12 November 2005. See attached image of aerial photograph taken from Google Earth. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 07 November 2013

• ME019-044002 Pit circle
  Description

  Circular area defined by circle of large pits within which were concentric lines of burials revealed in excavation by P.D. Sweetman. C14 dates centred c. 2000 BC. (Sweetman 1985, 195-221). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-044003 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Aerial photographs and surface indications suggest that there might be a possible small passage-tomb some 60m E of the main mound (ME019-045----) at Newgrange (O'Kelly et. al. 1978, 251). Identified by O'Kelly (1978, 48) as Site Z1 in his Guide to Newgrange. See attached pdf showing contour plan of Newgrange which shows location of tombs Z (ME019-044004-) and Z1, taken from Kelly et. al. 1978, 253. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 07 November 2013

• ME019-044004 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Situated some 30m E of main mound (ME019-045----) at Newgrange, this site, on excavation, was shown to be a kerbed mound , c. 20m in diam., with orthostats and sockets representing a passage-tomb with a single side chamber, opening to SSE. A decorated stone basin was found in the end chamber. An orthostat fragment also bore megalithic art (O'Kelly et. al. 1978, 249-352). Identified by O'Kelly (1978, 47) as Site Z in his Guide to Newgrange. Semi-circular arc of enclosing element of tomb can be seen on Google Earth aerial photographs taken 12 November 2005. See attached Google Earth image showing semi-circular arc of enclosing element of tomb. See attached pdf showing contour plan of Newgrange which shows location of tombs Z and Z1 (ME019-044003-), taken from Kelly et. al. 1978, 253. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 07 November 2013

• ME019-045 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  The great mound of Newgrange, 85m in max. dim. and 11m H, is delimited by a megalithic kerb. It covers a cruciform passage-tomb, 24m long, opening to SE. The chamber is roofed with a fine corbelled vault. There are two stone basins in NE recess; the others contain single basins. The 'roof box' above, some 2.4m back from the passage entrance, permits rays of the rising sun at midwinter solstice to penetrate to the chamber. Many of the kerb stones and a great number of the structural stones of the passage and chamber bear megalighic art. A circle of standing stones (ME019-045005-) surrounds the mound, and three small passage-tombs (ME019-046001-, ME019-046003--, ME019-044004-) are in close proximity to it. The monument was excavated between 1962 and 1975 (O'Kelly 1982). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-045002 Ceremonial stone setting
  Description

  This feature was identified by O'Kelly (1982, 75-6) as an oval setting which was located 'east of the tomb entrance (ME019-045----) about 2.5m outside K97, the kerbstone immediately to the right of the entrance stone. It was covered by the quartz boulders of the collapse and when these were removed a low oval mound of water-rolled quartz pebbles, each about the size of a medium potato, was found and mixed through it were fragments of quarried quartz and rounded boulders of grey granite. There were 607 water-rolled quartz pebbles, 103 granite boulders and 612 fragments of quarried angular quartz. The total spread of the mound measures approximately 4m x 3.4m and it was about 50cm in height. Protruding through it were the tops of a setting of small thin slabs forming an oval 3m x 2m. The largest of the slabs, which stood in the northern arc of the oval, was roughly triangular in shape, having a basal length of 65cm and a height of 46cm, set with the apex upwards. It was 8cm in maximum thickness and was of soft friable mica-schist. Its western sloping edge had a horizontal slot 1cm wide and 12cm deep at a height of 18.5cm above the base. When the covering of quartz and granite pebbles was removed these standing slabs were found to form a border to a pavement partly cobbled and partly flagged. Lying as a cobble in the northwest quadrant was a highly polished piece of sandstone, 24cm in length, oval in cross section, 7.4cm x 4.5cm, and displaying a fractured surface at one end and a blunt polished point at the other - a phallus? It lay east-west, pointed end to the east. Two flint artefacts were found, a blade and what may be a fragment of a flint knife; the former was in a heap of pebbles and the other came from the pavement beaneath' (ibid. 75-6). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 November 2013

• ME019-045003 Hut site
  Description

  Described by O’Kelly (1982, 76) as the foundation of a hut site which ‘was situated west of the tomb entrance (ME019-045----), 4m south of K3’. O’Kelly recorded that the ‘western half of the hut was marked by a foundation trench, c. 40cm wide and 15-20cm deep, in which were 6 irregularly spaced postholes averaging 12-13cm in diameter and 22-25cm depth. There were a number of quartz boulders in the side of the trench. At the south the hut was defined by a row of small stones set upright and 3 postholes were present while at the east there was a suggestion of a trench and 2 or possibly 3 further postholes. The floor of the hut was lower than the surrounding old ground surface, particularly at the east where it was as much as 15-20cm lower. On the north the outline of the floor overran the centre of a circular area, 1m in diameter, which consisted of burnt earth and charcoal which clearly pre-dated the hut as part of it had been cut away for the hut floor. Because of the absence of postholes or slot trench the hut may have been open towards the north. The external dimensions of the hut were: N-S 4.2m; E-W 3.2m’ (ibid., 76). O'Kelly speculated that 'if the hut site were contemporary with the primary use of the tomb (ME019-045----) could it have been a mortuary house of the kind found at Tustrup, and elsewhere in Denmark' (ibid., 77). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 November 2013

• ME019-045004 Habitation site
  Description

  Beaker pottery and associated wares found in association with hearths, pits and post-holes around the mound of passage-tomb (ME019-045----) but no recognisable house plans recovered (O'Kelly 1978, 118; O'Kelly et. al. 1983) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-045005 Stone circle
  Description

  Twelve standing stones surround mound of passage-tomb (ME019-045----) (diam. c. 130m). Originally there may have been as many as thirty-eight placed c. 9m apart. Dated later than passage-tomb (ME019-045----) and earlier than Beaker occupation (ME019-045004-) by O'Kelly (1982, 82). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-046001 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Identified as Site K by O'Kelly (1978, 47). Situated some 90m W of main mound (ME019-045----) of Newgrange, this site, on excavation, was shown to be a mound, c. 20m in diam., containing an undifferentiated passage-tomb, 8m long opening to the S having a triangular annex or cell attached to E side of the chamber. Two, or possibly three, phases of construction were evident. A number of structural stones bear megalithic art (O'Kelly et. al. 1978, 249-352). See attached pdf file which shows contour plan of Site K, taken from O'Kelly et. al. (1978, 253) and jpeg file which shows Google Earth aerial photo taken 12 July 2013. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 07 November 2013

• ME019-046003 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Identified by O'Kelly as Site L (O'Kelly 1978, 47). Situated some 60m W of main mound at Newgrange, this site, on excavation, was shown to be kerbed mound, between c. 22m and 24m in diam., containing a ruined cruciform passage-tomb, 11.75m long opening to the SSW; a limekiln had been constructed in the passage. A number of stones bear megalithic art. (O'Kelly et. al. 1978, 249-352). See attached pdf file which shows contour plan of Site L, taken from O'Kelly et. al. (1978, 253) and jpeg file which shows Google Earth aerial photo taken 12 July 2013. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 07 November 2013

• ME019-046005 Timber circle
  Description

  Located on the E-W ridge of Newgrange and c. 35m W of the kerb of the central passage tomb (ME019-045----). Archaeological excavation (E000261) was conducted during 1984 on the E side of a NNW-SSE field bank in advance of the construction of a temporary roadway. It uncovered the E arc of a timber circle consisting of large inner post-holes (Chord 9m N-S) and an outer ring of usually smaller post-holes (Chord 16m N-S). The larger pits showed signs of burning and had been re-used as post-holes, while the smaller pits contained debris and almost all had post-pits. All the features produce either sherds of Beaker ware, flint debris or cremated remains. A sample (GRN-12828) from one of the larger pits of phase 1 produced a C14 date of 4000 +- 30 bp, which calibrates to 2577-2468 cal. BC while another sample (GRN-12829) from one of the smaller outer pits produced fragments of a Beaker vessel, four flints, a fragment of a stone bowl, and a C14 determination of 3930 +- 35 bp (2562-2299 cal. BC) (Smyth 2009, App. 4, 126). Most of the timber circle (original ext. diam. c. 20-30m) remains unexcavated under a hut or W of the field bank. (Sweetman 1987) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 8 December 2017 Amended: 27 May 2021

• ME019-049001 Barrow - mound barrow
  Description

  Situated some 500m SE of passage tomb mound (ME019-045----) at Newgrange. Mound c. 25m in diam., nearly 6m high, listed as possible passage-tomb (Herity 1974, 247). Surrounded by but not centrally placed within bank (ME019-049002-) (O'Kelly 1978, 49-50). See attached Google Earth aerial photograph taken 12 November 2005. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 08 November 2013 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 2/1964).

• ME019-049002 Henge
  Description

  This monument (Newgrange Site A) is a henge. It has been described by Stout (1991, 268) as an embanked enclosure that was recorded on the OS first edition (1836). A mound, within the ‘Ring’ NW of the centre, was termed ‘Moat’. The henge is situated on the lowest terrace above the River Boyne, which is c. 350m to the S at the nearest point. The Newgrange passage tomb is at the summit of the ridge c. 460m to the NW, and the central passage tombs of Knowth and Dowth are prominent features to the NW and NE respectively. The denuded earthwork is roughly circular in plan (max. ext. dims 153m NE-SW; 146m NNW-SSE), and the interior deepens towards the centre giving the monument a saucer shape. There is no evidence for a ditch and it is probable that the interior was scarped to obtain the bank material. The bank, best preserved now at NW (Wth 24m; H 0.7m), was levelled at the E side in 1965 when 165 pieces of flint were collected. These included 24 artefacts, mostly scarpers, but there was also a plano-convex knife and a possible discoidal knife (O’Kelly 1968). An entrance gap (Wth 13m) at ENE (80 degrees T) was noted but no entrance can be confirmed. A flat-topped mound (diam. of base 27m; max. H 3.2m) is NW of the centre and is probably a passage tomb. (Coffey 1912, 42; Crawford 1927, 97; Ó Ríordáin and Daniel 1964, 87, pl. 51; O’Kelly 1968, 114-17; O’Kelly 1978, 49-50; Thornton 1980, 105-08) The aerial archaeological survey conducted by the National Monuments Service in the summer of 2018 (Condit and Keegan 2018, 85-90) adds considerably to our knowledge of the structure of this monument. An annexe, which was always incorporated into the henge, is detected at E where it is visible as a bulge in the bank at ENE. The bank of the annexe (max. Wth 9m) could be accompanied by inner and outer ditches. Radial lines, creating construction compartments in the main henge bank are particularly noticeable S-W. A small outer bank, or perhaps the outer edge of the badly denuded original bank, is also noted E-S.   See attached Google Earth aerial photograph taken 12 July 2013 (ME019-049002-_01.jpg), and photo taken 13/07/2020 (ME019-049002-_02.jpg) Date of revision: 08 October 2025 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 2/1964).

• ME019-050 Barrow - stepped barrow
  Description

  Situated on a lower terrace on the S-facing slope of Newgrange ridge within Brú na Bóinne. It was recorded by Claire O’Kelly (1978, 50) as a circular ploughed out mound and designated A1. Images taken by Anthony Murphy using a drone-mounted camera in winter sunlight, and others taken by the National Monuments Service in the drought conditions of 2018 reveal the monument to be a circular area (int. diam. c. 20m) with an internal mound. The central platform is separated by a berm from an inner bank, which is separated by a second berm from an outer bank. The outer bank appears to have an external fosse (max. ext. diam. 39m E-W; 38m N-S), and the berms between the banks are wider at SW so that the central mound is displaced to the NE. The earthwork is probably a stepped barrow. (Condit and Keegan 2018, 91-2, Figs 83-85) See attached Google Earth aerial photograph taken 05 October 2009, and photographs taken on 13th July 2018   The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 08 October 2025

• ME019-051 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Located at the crest of the S-facing slope of the upper terrace of the Newgrange ridge. There are the remains of a severely damaged mound (diam. c. 30.5m) known as Site U contained within a kerb, some of which survives at SE. It is listed as possible passage-tomb (O'Kelly 1978, 49; Herity 1974, 247). The aerial archaeological survey conducted by the National Monuments Service in 2018 did not add anything to our knowledge of this monument but it did identify two possible rectangular features (dims c. 10m x c. 10m) defined by straight fosses located c. 30m and 50m SE of the passage tomb (Condit and Keegan 2018, 114-115, Fig. 106).     The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 08 October 2025

• ME019-055 Standing stone
  Description

  Orientated E-W. Subrectangular cross-section (1.8m by 0.8m to 1.6m, H 3m). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-058001 Barrow - mound barrow
  Description

  Grass-covered mound c. 36m in diam. and nearly 8m in H, 1km SE of the main mound at Newgrange (ME019-045----). Listed as passage-tomb (Herity 1974, 247; O'Kelly 1978, 50). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 10 July 2007

• ME019-058002 Megalithic tomb - passage tomb
  Description

  Situated on the floodplain on the N bank of a W-E section of the River Boyne at a point where the river begins to turn N within Brú na Bóinne. This feature, which has been recorded as a visible feature known as Site B1 (O’Kelly 1978, 50-1) and is visible on LiDAR, is at the centre of the Small Henge (ME019-138----). It is a small mound (diam. c. 12-15m), but given its position, which is displaced to the SE from the centre of the henge, it may prove to be the remains of a passage tomb. (Condit and Keegan 2018, 125, Figs 116, 117) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 08 October 2025

• ME019-065 Enclosure
  Description

  Large D-shaped enclosure visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs (Swan and Condit 2000, 25). The monument consists of a D-shaped area defined by a bank (H c. 1m; Wth c. 9m) and outer fosse (Wth. c. 6m) along straight side (L. 80m) at N (Swan and Condit 2000, 26). Visible as a cropmark on Google Earth aerial photographs taken 12 November 2005. See attached aerial photograph taken from Google Earth. Date of upload: 11 November 2013

• ME019-067001 Architectural fragment
  Description

  Cut stone architectural fragments identified by Geraldine Stout that have been incorporated into a small arch belonging to a structure that has the appearance of a small stone canopy built over a well. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 November 2013.

• ME019-067002 Ring-ditch
  Description

  Situated on a shelf on a S-facing slope within Brú na Bóinne, with a W-E section of the river c. 450m to the S. The cropmark of a ring-ditch (diam. c. 20m) is visible on Ordnance Survey aerial photograph (OS8, 1863) taken 25 August 1991 (pers. comm. Tom Condit). From an image made by Ken Williams in July 2018 the enclosure is defined by two fosse features (int. diam. c. 15m; ext. diam. c. 20m) and has four pits within the inner fosse that are as distant from each other as they can be. The monument is located in the NE corner of a field with Newgrange passage tomb (ME019-045----) 425m to NNE, mound barrow (ME019-049001-) and embanked enclosure (ME019-049002-) 570m to E, ring-ditch (ME019-078----) and embanked enclosure (ME026-006----) 250m and 370m to SSE respectively. The possible ritual pond (ME019-067003-) is 130m to S and embanked enclosure (ME019-094----) 330m to SW. See attached OS aerial photo (OS8, 1863) showing cropmark of ring-ditch. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien & Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 17 August 2018

• ME019-067003 Ritual site - pond
  Description

  Possible ritual pond site identified by Tom Condit. Depicted as a pond feature on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map. Compiled by : Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 November 2013

• ME019-067005 Linear earthwork
  Description

  Linear earthwork running E-W which could be the remains of an ancient road (pers. comm. Tom Condit) is visible on OS aerial photograph (OS8 1065). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 November 2013 See attached OS aerial photograph showing linear earthwork.

• ME019-068003 Weir - fish
  Description

  The 'Fish Weir' marked at this location on the current edition of the OS 6-inch maps may have been built on or in close proximity to the medieval fish weir of Rosnaree which belonged to the Cistercian abbey of Mellifont. In 1358, the Abbot of Mellifont obtained a judgment in his favour regarding the three fishing weirs at Rosnaree, Knowth and Staghlyn (ME019-066001-) (Went 1953, 22). According to Went the 'fishing weirs at Staleen and Newgrange (ME019-068001-) have not been used recently for the capture of salmon. Only those of Oldbrige and Rosnaree have been used for upwards of a century, although the Staleen (ME019-066001-) weir may have been used for eels in more recent years' (ibid., 23-4). Went goes on to state that the weirs of Oldbridge and Rosnaree are, 'with the exception of certain details, which will be mentioned later, virtually the same as those erected and maintained by the monks of Mellifont for nearly four centuries. The actual materials used in the erection and construction of the weirs may have changed but the principle of the method of fishing has changed but little' (ibid., 30). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 November 2013.

• ME019-068004 Mill - corn
  Description

  Browe Mill located on the River Boyne is listed in the possessions of the Cistercian abbey of Mellifont at its dissolution in 1539 (Stout 2002, 89). The Civil Survey of 1654 recorded two mills in the townland of Newgrange (ibid., 111-12). One of these mills was probably Browe Mill. A corn mill is depicted at this location on Bernard Scalé's map of the Caldwell estate dating from 1766 (ibid., 130-1; 133). This mill may have been one of the mills listed in the Civil Survey of 1654. No mill is depicted at this location on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. However a rectangular structure depicted on the 25-inch map at this location may be the remains of the mill shown on the 1776 map. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 13 November 2013.

• ME019-078 Timber circle
  Description

  Located at the outer edge of the lowest terrace overlooking the floodplain on the N bank of a W-E section of the River Boyne. An aerial photograph (GB89.L.13) shows an arc of an enclosure that is also visible on OSI images (1995). This has a diameter of c. 30m and is defined by a single fosse feature that might be composed of contiguous pits and is only visible E-S-W, as was reported by Conor Brady (pers. com.). It could be a timber circle.  Revised by: Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 08 October 2025

• ME019-094 Henge
  Description

  Located on the floodplain on the N bank of a W-E section of the River Boyne, c. 140m from the river in Brú na Bóinne. This was first identified through a LiDAR survey (Davis et al. 2010, 180, LP2) as a low-profile mound (ME019-094001-) with slight traces of an outer enclosure (ext. diam. c. 140m) defined by an extremely low bank. Geophysical survey (10R0124: Barton 2010a) of the mound revealed evidence of an excavated feature (dims 16m x 2m) aligned roughly NNE-SSW with splayed terminals, each 7m wide. It was suggested (Davis et. al. 2013, 233) that this may represent the remains of a passage tomb. Aerial photographs taken by the National Monuments Service in July 2018 (Condit and Keegan 2018, 36-43) show that the enclosure (int. diam. 114m N-S; 103m E-W), which has come to be known as the Univallate Henge, is defined by a relatively slight earthen bank (Wth c. 7.5m) with an internal segmented ditch surrounding the central mound. The 24 segments of ditch (dims 6.2-7.3m x 1.5m) are remarkably regular with in-turned ends and are placed 4.9-5.3m apart. A likely entrance is identified at ESE where the bank appears to be absent and there is a wider gap between the fosse segments. About 20m inside the segmented ditch at N an arc of a parallel ditch and other features are tentatively visible. The perimeter is interrupted by a NNE-SSW field bank at W, and the mortuary enclosure (ME019-094002-) interrupts the bank of the henge at NW. Another long mortuary enclosure (ME019-094003-) is just outside the henge at ENE, and the Geometric Henge (ME026-033----) is c. 80m to the ESE.      See the attached aerial view from SW Compiled by: Paul Walsh Revised by: Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 08 October 2025

• ME019-094001 Mound
  Description

  Located on the floodplain on the N bank of a W-E section of the River Boyne, and at the centre of the Univallate Henge (ME019-094----). This was first identified through a LiDAR survey (Davis et al. 2010, 27-28, 180, LP2) as a low-profile mound (diam. 24.5m; max. H c. 0.2m), and a geophysical survey (Ibid. 101-112; Barton 2010b) revealed evidence of an internal excavated feature (dims 16m x 2m) aligned roughly NNE-SSW with splayed terminals, each 7m wide (Barton 2010b). It was suggested (Davis et. al. 2013, 231) that this might represent the remains of a passage tomb, but aerial photographs taken by the National Monuments Service in July 2018 (Condit and Keegan 2018, 36-43, Figs 32-35) suggest that it is a line (L 11.5m) of four large pits (diam. 2.2m) that probably held posts, with ditches (L c. 7m) at either end. The mound was defined by a narrow ditch.     Compiled by: Michael Moore

• ME019-094002 Long mortuary enclosure
  Description

  Located on a slight S-facing slope at the NW edge of the Univallate Henge (ME019-094----). This is the cropmark of an oblong area (dims 33m plus NNW-SSE; 15m ENE-WSW), which is rounded at the narrow ends and defined by a ditch (Wth 2.5m), but a NNE-SSW field bank truncates the enclosure at the N end. (Condit and Keegan 2018, 36-43, Figs 32-37)   Compiled by: Michael Moore

• ME019-100 Enclosure
  Description

  A large rectangular enclosure (dims. 350m x 150m), identifed from Lidar imagery (Davies et al 2010, 172-3). Recorded by Davis (2010, 173) as site E7-i. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout See attached Google Earth aerial photograph taken 12 November 2005 which shows cropmark of large rectangular enclosure.

• ME019-119 Enclosure
  Description

  Situated on a S-facing slope. A circular enclosure (diam. c. 70m) defined by a single fosse feature is visible on a vertical Black and White aerial photograph provided by Steve Davis (April, 2015). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 April, 2015

• ME019-129 Cursus
  Description

  A geophysical survey undertaken in 2015 (Leigh 2015) identified a rectilinear space (Wth. 45m) defined by two ditches 28m apart, with an entrance causeway in the east. It extends at least 101m on an east/west axis. A central pathway formed by two parallel pit/post alignments runs from the entrance causeway for the full length of the enclosed space. These lines of pit/posts are 3–4m apart and each pit is 1.5–2m in diameter. Either side of the central pathway is a further alignment of larger pits each 2–4m in diameter and 2.5–4m apart. The site is located 215m south of Newgrange passage tomb (ME019-045---) and within the core area of Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site. It is situated on the highest, fluvio-glacial terrace above the River Boyne east of Newgrange Farm and 400m north-west of the satellite passage tomb known as ‘Site A’ (ME019-049001-). In 2018 a Royal Irish Academy funded excavation (18E0369) by Geraldine Stout cut a trench (2m by 25m) across a section of the northern half of the site. The excavation confirmed the sub-surface presence of the three key features that had been identified in the geophysical survey; two outer ditches (with an associated levelled bank), four rows of internal pits, and an axial mound at the centre. A charcoal sample from the basal fill of the outer ditch fill produced a C14 date of 2632–2472 BC (calibrated, 95.4 % probability, appendix 4). This layer also produced a chert platform core. One of the larger pits (diam. 4.80m; D 1.65m) produced evidence for burnt animal deposits that were identified as cattle and possible pig, and charred remains of willow and alder in the upper fill. Charcoal samples from the pits and ditches consisted almost entirely of oak; the remains of heartwood from mature trees growing in open clearings. They were free of any insect remains or fungal growth which suggests that the trees were felled and used as green wood, or if seasoned were kept in dry storage. A preliminary inspection of the flints by Dr Conor Brady has identified 36 flint artefacts, three chert artefacts and one siliceous artefact. Much of the flint, which was recovered largely from the topsoil, is debitage and includes many platform flakes, flake fragments and chunks. Two pieces of flint are burnt and many are patinated, indicating recycling. The artefacts identified include a chert platform core, a possible bipolar core, a scraper fragment and a possible broken barbed and tanged arrowhead. Date of upload: 19 November 2018

• ME026-006 Embanked enclosure
  Description

  This monument is described by Stout (1991, 268-71) as: This embanked enclosure (Newgrange Site O) is situated on gley soil at the edge of the River Boyne. It was first detected rom Air Corps photographs by Captain Harrison in 1953. Descriptions and photographs of the monument were published the following year (Ó Ríordáin 1954, 94-5). The embanked enclosure, Newgrange Site A (ME019-049002-), is located 370m to the NE. Site O consists of a low bank enclosing a roughly circular saucer-shaped area. The bank material was probably derived by scarping or hollowing out the interior. The site measures 175m east-west by 125m north-south in maximum overall diameter. The enclosing bank is 1m in average height and has an average width of 35m, increasing to 55m in the north-west. The eastern portion of the bank follows a natural rise, which exaggerates its width. A 9m-wide gap in the bank at this point (104 degrees T) is probably the original entrance. A second break further south-east (130 degrees T), with a maximum width of 15m narrowing to 4m, appears not to be an original feature. These two gaps, on either side of a short section of splayed bank, create what appears to be an oval-shaped mound in the south-east of the enclosure. An aerial photograph (CUCAP: AYM 70) shows another possible entrance in the south (170 degreees T) which is much narrower than that in the east. It is not visible on the ground. Twenty four flints were found just east of the outside edge of the enclosure in 1967 (O’Kelly 1968, 117-19) (NMI E80: 166-85). Five of these were artifacts. (Ó Ríordain 1954, 94-5; O Ríordáin and Daniel 1964, 87, pl. 51; O’Kelly 1968, 117; Burl 1969, 17; Norman and St Joseph 1969, 30, pl. 13; Wainwright 1969, 131; O’Kelly 1978, 51-2; Thornton 1980, 105-08; Clare 1986, 311; Moore 1987, 41, No. 315) Date of revision: 10 January 2010 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 15/1976).

• ME026-021002 Ritual site - pond
  Description

  Located in the floodplain on the N bank of the River Boyne at Brú na Bóinne, with the river c. 125m to the S at the nearest point. Ponds for the ritual deposition of material wealth are a feature of prehistoric religious practice, particularly at areas of enhanced ritual significance. A poem in the Dindshenchas, which is a collection of lore about places dating from the ninth to the twelfth centuries AD, describes (Gwyn 1906, 13) a feature on the S slope of the Newgrange ridge as ‘Barc brainech’ – the beaked boat – and it has been correlated with this feature (Stout 2002, 66, Fig. 5). The two ponds are depicted only on the 1912 edition of the OS 6-inch map. They are remarkably similar (W pond: diam. c. 68m E-W; c. 62m N-S; E pond: dims c. 65m E-W; c. 50m N-S) and they are connected by a channel. Together they form a rough ENE-WSW line. (Condit and Keegan 2018, Fig. 90) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 08 October 2025

• ME026-021003 Ford
  Description

  A ford is marked in the River Boyne connecting the townlands of Newgrange and Roughgrange on the 1836 and 1908 eds of the OS 6-inch map, and is extant today where the broken water can be seen on the OSI seris of aerial photographs (2005). It cannot be demonstrated but this ford would provide access to Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth directly from the S, and might have been used as a convenient access route from prehistory into the late middle ages. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 15 November, 2013

• ME026-027 Linear earthwork
  Description

  A broad raised linear feature running E-W (L c. 200m) was identified from Lidar coverage (Davies, S. et al 2010, 180).

• ME026-033 Henge
  Description

  Located on the floodplain on the N bank of a W-E section of the River Boyne in Brú na Bóinne. Exceptionally dry weather conditions during June / July 2018 brought out the cropmark of a large and perfectly circular enclosure (int. diam. c. 90m) defined by two narrow and closely-spaced but interrupted fosse features, which was first photographed by Anthony Murphy using a drone-mounted camera. Further images taken by NMS shows that the sections of fosse (L c. 5m) are regularly broken by gaps (Wth c. 5m), and there are at least two outer lines of single pits (max. ext. diam. c. 130m). An arc of closely set fosse sections (Chord c. 70m NE-SW) is outside the complete circle at ESE and probably represents an abandoned attempt at creating an enclosure. A rectangular enclosure (dims c. c. 15m NE-SW; c. 10m NE-SW) defined by single fosses and with a projecting opening or porch on the NW side is attached to the outside of the perimeter at NW and is an integral part of the enclosure. No trace of this pit-circle was evident in LiDAR coverage (Davies et al. 2010, 180), but the raised linear feature (ME026-027----) noted by the LiDAR could be evident as a broad shadow that crosses the enclosure from the perimeter at E to the edge at NW. The rath (ME026-034----) appears to overlie the arc of the detached fosse at ESE. The pit circle (ME019-094----) is c. 80m to the WNW, and the embanked enclosure (ME026-006----) is c. 100m to the ESE. See the attached views _1 from ESE; _2 from NW Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 16 July, 2018

• ME026-034 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Located on the floodplain on the N bank of a W-E section of the River Boyne, c. 100m from the river in Brú na Bóinne. Exceptionally dry weather conditions during June / July 2018 brought out the cropmark of a circular enclosure (diam. c. 40m) defined by a single narrow fosse feature, which is visible SW-NW-NE and was first photographed by Anthony Murphy using a drone-mounted camera. It is located between the embanked enclosure (ME026-006----) c. 30m to the ESE and the ceremonial enclosure (ME026-033----), which is c. 20m to the WNW, and it appears to overlie the arc of the detached fosse associated with (ME026-033----). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 16 July, 2018

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Newgrange.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

At the centre of the townland of Newgrange, about 1 in 20 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred. Parts of the land are water.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Newgrange.

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Newgrange with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Meath.

Name

Newgrange · An Ghráinseach Nua

Area

3,170,929 m² (317.09 ha, 783.55 acres)

Civil parish

Monknewtown, and its townlands

Barony

Slane Upper

Electoral division

Mellifont, the unit of the census

Census 2022

573 people lived in 197 households in the Mellifont electoral division. 85% of households owned their home. 24% of homes were built since 2001. 7% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 2% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Balfeddock, Dowth, Gilltown, Knowth, Lougher, Rossnaree, Roughgrange

Placenames

Newgrange on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address. Old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.