Belfast to Trim via New Grange and Trim Castle, Day 13

We left Belfast to travel down to New Grange. This is a place that is 500 years older than the pyramids in Egypt. This was a burial chamber that was built in reference to the winter solstice. Each year fifty people are chosen via a lottery system to be in the chamber as the suns rays enter the chamber and illuminate the interior. Only during the winter solstice will light enter. The Knowth mound which was closed until next year is the summer solstice. The third mound which I can’t remember the name of right now was built so that the spring and autumn solstices the light enters the chamber. The three circles carved on the entry stone they believe was an indication of cycles.
We were able to enter the chamber and they were able to simulate what it would look like. You had to duck your head a squeeze through the passage to get into the main chamber. Not for claustrophobics! Glad I’m not one.
Once back to the car we headed to Trim to see if we could check into our hotel, The Trim Castle Hotel. The hotel is just on the other side of the street from Trim Castle. They had filmed Braveheart in this castle. Quite impressive from the outside. We didn’t go into this castle as I think we were “castled” out by then. Next time…. We walked around town a bit and then headed back to the room for some wine on our own private balcony.