merrion street

Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, unveiled further stunning photographs of newly discovered archaeological features across the Boyne Valley landscape and Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site.

Following on from earlier discoveries, including by the National Monuments Service, I commissioned further flights over this area last week while the dry weather conditions persisted

, the Minister said.

The results, which are still being analysed by the National Monuments Service, are simply awe inspiring

, she added.

It will take some time to fully understand the place and relevance of these archaeological features and to comprehend the scale of what was clearly a very advanced civilisation.

Today, I am putting some further images into the public domain. These illustrate the secrets this landscape has held for thousands of years and which the recent spell of dry weather has revealed for us.

In commissioning this further work, Minister Madigan stressed that she was

very conscious that we have perhaps a very rare opportunity to understand more about our heritage and forebears. As the proverb says. . .. ‘Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann maitheas do dhuine éigin’

The Minister added

This investment in the past will inform many generations of archaeologists, scholars, historians and indeed the broader public understanding of where we, as an island nation, came from and indeed the possibilities of where we could go. Illuminating our past and our ancient landscapes, these shadows, cast by our forebears from thousands of years ago, fall gently on our shoulders, just as we stand on the shoulders of those who built these monuments.