On Saturday 22nd June, the Tullylish Historical Society took a trip to the magnificent Boyne Valley.

A huge 'thank you' to Plunkett Campbell who organised the trip and kept us all entertained with historcial anecdotes along the way. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day, even though the weather did prevent us from walking up to the Hill of Slane, but nevertheless, a successful trip.

First stop was at Monasterboice to view the High Cross and Ancient Tower 

The historic ruins are of an early Christian settlement in County Louth in Ireland, north of Drogheda.^[1] It was founded in the late 5th century by Saint Buithe who died around 521,^[2] and was an important centre of religion and learning until the founding of nearby Mellifont Abbey in 1142.^[1]

The site houses two churches built in the 14th century or later and an earlier round tower, but it is most famous for its 10th century high crosses.

The 5.5-metre Muiredach's High Cross is regarded as the finest high cross in the whole of Ireland. It is named after an abbot, Muiredach mac Domhnaill, who died in 923 and features biblical carvings of both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The North and West crosses are also fine examples of this kind of structure, but these have suffered much more from the effects of the weather.

Full explantations of the stone carding can be found at the following link
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/muiredach/muiredach.html

Christ as Ruler of the World
Christ is enthroned between St. Peter and St. Paul. He gives the keys to Peter on His right and a book to Paul

The round tower is about 35-metres tall, and is in very good condition, although it is not possible to go inside. The passage of time has laid down layers of earth so now the doorway is almost at ground level. The monastery was burned in 1097.^[1]

Plunkett escorting his pupils across the busy road to the Boyne Bridge

 Peter Hendron and Frank O'Dowd getting a closer look at the Boyne

 Standing on the bridge

 You can see the 'Peace Bridge' in the distance

 Unfortuantely the rain prevented us from getting out at Newgrange but Plunkett's explanation made us feel as if we were inside the tomb!

Newgrange was constructed over 5,000 years ago (about 3,200 B.C.), making it older  thanStonehenge   in England and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt

For more information on Newgrange, click on the following link http://newgrange.com/

 We dined in the Conyngham Arms in Slane