Visitng Newgrange

cryogenine · Veteran Member

Visitng Newgrange

Michele Erdvig · Host

JB,

I really wouldn't recommend doing Newgrange as a day trip from Kilkenny. Depending on time of year, Newgrange can fill up with tourists so it is always best to arrive as early as you can to get your name on the "wait list". Only a limited number of people can enter the tumulus at one time hence they must space out the tours during the day. Once they fill up no one else can go. You can of course visit the museum but I'm sure you want to see it all.

Michele

cryogenine · Veteran Member

Thanks Michele,

Would taking one of the guided tours to Newgrange, out of Dublin, be worth considering?

And if so, do you know if a train or bus could get us from Kilkenny to Dublin in
time to catch one of these tours? I think they leave by 10am and tend to stop
at various hotels. We'd also need the same transfortation back to Kilkenny that evening.

Our day set aside to visit Newgrange is Wednesday, May 9th, so we are hoping the tourist load
might be lower following the banking holiday.

Again, really appreciate all your help and advice,

jb

Michele Erdvig · Host

JB,

You could get the train to Dublin and pick up one of the tours. It will mean an early start on that day. Go to my "Transport" page for a link to Irish rail. I believe Mary Gibbons tours of Newgrange guarantee admission to Newgrange.

Michele

cryogenine · Veteran Member

Hi Michele,

The train might work but it will be a close call. Any experience with the shuttle from
Heuston to Connolly stations? I gather that it can be a nightmare during the commute and
that is whenwe'd be taking it in order to catch Ms. Gibbon's tour by 10:30 am.

I have e-mail her, also, and perhaps they have a pick-up closer to Heuston station.
Seems for Newgrange, all roads lead to Dublin.

Thanks again for all you help,

jb

Michele Erdvig · Host

JB,

You could always do a "dawn patrol" and leave very early for Newgrange so as to be there shortly after they open. I'm sure if you were there early you would have no problem getting a tour.

Michele

cryogenine · Veteran Member

Thanks Michele...that may be our last resort. Any thoughts on the time it would take from Kilkenny to Newgrange if we took "the back roads" to miss any Dublin commuter traffic?
Hate to get up with the chickens and then be a sitting duck in traffic.

jb

Michele Erdvig · Host

JB,

You are bound to run into some traffic but if you take side roads maybe you can avoid some. However it is easy to get lost on them. I would take the main road to Naas. It is tricky in Naas because you want to head for Kil**** but the sign points toward Sallins. Follow the signs to Sallins till you see signs for Kil**** (R407). Take the R125 to the N3 and head north to Navan. Take the N51 east to Newgrange (signposted Bru na Boinne & Drogheda). If in doubt stop for directions!

That will probably take 3 hours if you move right along.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

The forum's profanity filter has censored me! Let's see if I can get around it. The name of the town is Kilc ock. just leave out the space.

Michele

cryogenine · Veteran Member

Thanks and I'll leave my rooster back at the B&B just to be safe!

jb

wojazz3 · Guru

Hi JB:

I haven't seen your itinerary, but if your Bru na Boine visit is on a weekend, the M50 shouldn't be too bad early, especially on Sunday. It's still a long way to go though. The M1 will get you there much more quickly which is what you want on the way up. I don't think you'll have a chance to hit Tullamore in the same day with Newgrange. By the way, Kilbeggan is right up the road and the distillery there is no longer in use, but does tours. Worth a stop.

Bill

cryogenine · Veteran Member

Thanks Bill! We are exploring an option for a guide to drive us from Kilkenny to Newgrange and back so we can relax and enjoy the countryside.

Appreciate the tip on the distillery; hit Middleton on the last trip and got to be an "official" taster. Great tour and their Middleton Rare must be what they drink in heaven. I hesitated to buy a bottle at the distillery but it jumped into my bag at the duty-free shop and refused to leave. Seems the price in 2000 was about $60 and now, in Califnornia, it runs $130-170 if you can find it.

Slainte,

jb

cryogenine · Veteran Member

Well...we decided to save 300 euros for a driver and make the trip ourselves.
Looks like the dawn patrol will leave Kilkenny around 6am
and head East when we get to Killrooster

Hey...if other pagans could make the journey, why can't we?

Michele Erdvig · Host

JB,

Perhaps you can have an early night before your dawn trip to Newgrange. And think of all the fine Irish whiskey you can purchase with the 300 euro!

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig at 02:06, 2007-02-01

CowboyCraic · Guru

JB,

Killrooster......................ROFL....thanks I needed that this morning.

I would also say that the 300E would be better dspent on Whiskey and song. The early start will be well worth it once you get to Newgrange.

Slan Go Foill,

Bit Devine

An rud a líonas an tsúil líonann sé an croí
What fills the eye fills the heart

cryogenine · Veteran Member

We came, we saw, we rocked! This excursion would have been worth crawling up the M50 over broken beer bottles. Fortunately, we only had to do that in Kinsale after Rugby Weekend.

New Grange and Knowth are a "must see" in my book! We made the drive in 3 hours and got with the first tour at 9:15~us and one other couple. When I inquired about the "brogue" of the tour guide, turns out he is a Yank and lived 80 miles up the road from us in San Jose, California. Got laid off in the tech wreck and bought the wife's family home in Ireland. Now he gives tours~we should all be so lucky.

Thanks to all of you for your directions and encouragement to bite the bullet and just go. We did blow the 300 EU fishing and horseback riding and I treated myself to a glass of Middleton Rare. Not sure which was more spiritual...New Grange or the Middleton

-- Edited by cryogenine at 00:35, 2007-05-30

Michele Erdvig · Host

JB,

Welcome back! I'm delighted to hear that Newgrange and Knowth were a hit. I hope the directions worked for you. I was just there myself several weeks ago. It is easy to spend 3-4 hours seeing everything. I managed to go into Newgrange but came right back out because of claustrophobia. I did it about 30 years ago and endured the tour. But the older I get the worse the fear of small enclosed spaces crowded with other people gets. I did enjoy being able to walk around the entire perimeter of Newgrange. That had been fenced off before. I liked seeing all the stones engraved with strange symbols.

Michele

P.S. That's funny about your tour guide. Small world.