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A National Heritage survey has shown that Newgrange in the Boyne Valley is Ireland’s favorite heritage site in the country. The site is famed worldwide for its annual alignment with the sun on the winter solstice.
TheJournal.ie reports on the Survey and Ireland’s preparation for National Heritage Week, which began on Saturday and aims “to build awareness and education about our heritage thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation.”
Ireland’s top site according to the survey, Newgrange predates other famous sites around the world including the pyramids at Giza and Stonehenge. While there’s no consensus on why the site was originally built centuries ago, many speculate that it must have some religious or spiritual significance.
Other results from the survey showed that County Meath has the richest heritage, followed by Clare and Kerry. Trinity College in Dublin was rated the site most worthy of official heritage status according to the research, which was conducted by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical Ireland.
David Lane, managing director of Ecclesiastical Insurance Ireland, said “Over a quarter of those surveyed reported visiting Irish heritage sites frequently, which reiterates the importance of our heritage gems as a valuable tourism resource, not just for overseas tourists but also increasingly for those holidaying at home.”
“While the economic climate is set to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, it is a positive sign that there has been a revival of interest in our country’s past.“
National Heritage Week will run for eight days this year and will put a special focus on Ireland’s built heritage. In order to celebrate, sites that were previously closed to the public - including Freemasons Hall in Dublin, Bracklyn House in Westmeath and Kilpeacon House in Limerick - will be opened again to the public.
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7 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Portia777 | Aug 22, 2012, 09:59 AM EDT
??? People world wide call it Disney Grange. I wonder why? Bru Na Boinne- the Sidhe Palace- I wish she was given her proper name. I wish Irish people knew what others know re Bru Na Boinne and her deliberate destruction during the making of Disney Grange.....but I guess that truth is for our children to discover.
Fergananim | Aug 22, 2012, 08:46 AM EDT
"If only Ireland's Fat Kat, Dubliner Bourgeois could live up to her National History and Heritage". No one will do anything of the sort if you call them names. Relax.
aloistmartin | Aug 21, 2012, 05:35 PM EDT
"The Air That I Breath" Eh, mairint@ ?
mairint | Aug 20, 2012, 06:53 PM EDT
For me, the peace and beauty of Glendalough tops all places in Ireland. To go there on a weekday when it is not swamped by bus tours one finds a deep peace and rugged beauty and it is steeped in history...
aloistmartin | Aug 20, 2012, 03:59 PM EDT
If only Ireland`s Fat Kat, Dubliner Bourgeois could live up to her National History and Heritage ! .... "Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.' Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians."
johnshiel | Aug 20, 2012, 11:29 AM EDT
how is cliffs of moher classified as a heritage site? and if it can be included, can the giants causeway as well? and has it fallen from top spot/was it really evcer there? and is it to be considered among the top tourist spots of Ireland anyway? Seriously, I've loved Newgrange each of three times visiting. And I give a sincere nod to the quality of the interpretive guides I've toured with each time. Each quite different; each quite good.
CitizenWhy | Aug 20, 2012, 10:26 AM EDT
Why is Newgrange a surprise? I never met a person from Ireland who was not fascinated by this site. Visiting relatives from Ireland always bring something about or from Newgrange as small gifts.