Boyne Valley: Newgrange, Knowth and Battle of the Boyne

Brú na Bóinne (English: "Palace of the Boyne") is an internationally important complex of Neolithic chamber tombs, standing stones, henges and other prehistoric enclosures located in a wide meander of the River Boyne in Ireland. Later, it was used for Iron Age burials. The Normans settled the area in the Middle Ages and in 1690 it was the site of the famous Battle of the Boyne. The site is often referred to as the "Bend of the Boyne", and this is often (incorrectly) taken to be a translation of Brú na Bóinne.

The UNESCO has declared the Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne a World Heritage Site, containing what have been described as the national monuments of Ireland.

Newgrange (Irish: Dún Fhearghusa) is one of the passage tombs of the Brú na Bóinne complex.

Knowth is also part of this complex and consists of large passage tomb and about 20 satellite tombs. It lies about one kilometre north-west of Newgrange of two kilometres west of Dowth. The main tomb might be the largest megalithic object in Ireland.

The Battle of the Boyne site is still in development (as of July 2007) and might offer a museum soon. The deposed King James VII of Scotland and James II of England and Ireland and his Jacobite supporters were defeated by James nephew and son-in-law, William III and his supporters. By the invitation of Parliament, William had deposed James in 1688. Both Kings acted as Commander of their respective armies. The Battle of the Boyne was the decisive encounter in a war that was primarily about James attempt to regain the thrones of England and Scotland and was the result of Parliaments move to put William on the throne.