Secrets of the Stones timeline.

Monasterboice The historic ruins of Monasterboice (Irish: Mainistir Bhuithe) are of an early Christian settlement in County Louth in the Republic of Ireland, north of Drogheda. It was founded in the late 5th century by St. Buite who died around AD 521 and was an important centre of religion and learning until founding of nearby Mellifont Abbey in 1142. 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 c

Skellig Michael6th century AD Skellig Michael, from the word Sceilic meaning rock, lies 11.6km off the coast of the Iveragh Peninsula, Co. Kerry. The isolation of the Skelligs has helped to preserve the structures on the island and it was made a UNESCO world heritage site in 1996. The earliest reference to the site indicates that a monastery may have been founded here in the 6th century by St. Fionn. The monastery was dedicated to St. Michael in the 10th century. The site represents a different

Rock of Cashel The Rock of Cashel (Irish: Carraig Phadraig), also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's Rock, is a historic site in Ireland's province of Munster, located at Cashel, County Tipperary. The Rock of Cashel served as the traditional seat of the Kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion, though few remnants if any of the early structures survive. The majority of buildings on the current site date from the 12th and 13th centuries. Cashel is reput

Clonmacnoise 539 AD A large monastic settlement located in Co. Offaly on the eastern bank of the River Shannon and the Esker Riada. The site was founded c.549 AD by St. Ciarn. Within a year of establishing the site, St Ciarn had died but the monastery began to flourish nonetheless. The site became the centre of learning and trade for the country. Raids by the Vikings in the 8th century, suggested that the settlement had wealth and by the 10th century, high crosses were erected, indicating wealt

Knowth 3000 BC Part of the Br na Boinne complex and constructed in 3000BC, Knowth is a complex in itself. It consists of one large mound surrounded by over eighteen smaller mounds, some of which were once physically connected. The individual mounds were used for burials, while the site as a whole acted as a focal point for the community, a place to honour ancestors and as a territorial marker. The ancient historic records recount that Knowth was once the royal seat of the Kings of Northern Breg

Emain Macha
Emain Macha or Emuin Macha (in Old Irish, pronounced ['e??n? '?ax?]), or Eamhain Mhacha (Modern Irish, Irish pronunciation: ['awn? 'wax?]), sometimes Latinised/Anglicised as Emania and known in English as Navan Fort, is an ancient monument in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Although called a "fort", it is con

Newgrange 3200 BC 2000 BC The most famous tomb of the of the Br na Boinne Complex, Newgrange is one of the best examples in Western Europe of a passage grave. It was constructed c.3200BC, making it over 600 years older than the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. The Great Circle at Newgrange was the final piece of the site to be constructed, erected some time after 2000BC. The Tuatha D Danann, who ruled Ireland in ancient mythology, were said to have erected Newgr

Carrowkeel 3340 BC Perhaps one of the least known of Ireland's ancient sites, Carrowkeel is a large group of megalithic passage tombs sited on the highest parts of the Bricklieve Mountains in Co. Sligo. Materials found in the course of excavations date the tombs to 3340BC, although some of the tombs were used until 1500 BC. The tombs were created as an entry way and burial ground for those entering the after life. They consist of dolmens covered with smaller rocks. The largest tomb is that of Q

Hill of Tara 3500 BC The Hill of Tara (Teamhair na R, Hill of the King), located near the River Boyne, is a long, low limestone ridge that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in Co. Meath. According to tradition, it was the seat of the High King of Ireland. The site contains the remains of over 30 monuments and spans 4000 years of history, making it the largest, longest running and most significant site in Ireland. The monuments are mostly connected to ritual and ceremonial activity. Monuments

Carrowmore 5000 BC Carrowmore, located on a low-lying gravel ridge in the shadow of the Knocknarea Mountain, Co. Sligo, is the largest collection of megalithic tombs in Ireland. Archaeologists have recorded over 60 tombs spread over 3.8 sq km. It is the countrys and possibly Europes oldest site, with monuments dating to 5000 BC. Nearly 100 monuments were originally present on this extensive site, but a combination of academic vandalism in Victorian times and modern gravel quarrying has left onl

Secrets of the Stones

Monasterboise

Skellig Michael

Rock of Cashel

Clonmcnoise

Knowth

Navan Fort

Newgrange

Carrowkeel

Hill of Tara

Carrowmore