About this experience

Newgrange: Monument to Immortality

Five Thousand Winters

A special one-day Mythical Ireland Academy experience with Anthony Murphy

Saturday 12 December 2026 | 10am–5pm

Glebe House, Dowth, Co. Meath

Course Admission €195 | Course + PDF Book €215 | Strictly limited to 19 participants

Choose your booking option

Course Admission – €195

Includes the full one-day course, printed illustrated notes, refreshments and the opportunity to explore the historic Dowth landscape, weather permitting.

Course Admission + PDF Book – €215

Includes everything above, plus a complete digital PDF edition of Anthony Murphy's out-of-print book Newgrange: Monument to Immortality (2012), upon which the course is based.

The PDF book will be delivered separately by email after booking. This is a digital edition, not a physical book.

Both options reserve one place on the course. Places are strictly limited to 19 participants in total.

Beyond the stones – discovering the humanity of Newgrange

More than five thousand years ago, a remarkable community of people gathered in the Boyne Valley and embarked upon one of the greatest construction projects of the ancient world.

They built Newgrange.

But who were these people? What inspired them to create a monument of such extraordinary scale and sophistication? What did they understand about the heavens, the passage of time, the mysteries of life and death, and the possibility of immortality?

And why, more than fifty centuries later, does Newgrange continue to inspire such a powerful sense of wonder?

Join author, mythologist and photographer Anthony Murphy for a very special one-day exploration of Newgrange, inspired by his book Newgrange: Monument to Immortality.

Drawing upon more than 25 years of research, personal experience, photography and storytelling, Anthony will take participants on a fascinating journey into the world of Newgrange's builders, exploring the extraordinary monument they left behind and the profound questions it continues to raise.

This is not simply a course about archaeology, stones and dates. It is an exploration of the humanity of Newgrange – the people who created it, their possible beliefs, their relationship with the natural world, and their place in the great unfolding story of human existence.

Four fascinating sessions

Session One – The Builders of Eternity

Who were the people who built Newgrange? Discover their world, their way of life, the extraordinary effort involved in constructing the monument, and what recent archaeological and ancient DNA discoveries reveal about Neolithic Ireland.

Session Two – A Monument to the Cosmos

Explore the intimate relationship between Newgrange and the heavens. From the famous winter solstice alignment to the cycles of the moon and stars, we will investigate the astronomical knowledge of its builders and the possible cosmic significance of their greatest creation.

Session Three – The Womb of the Otherworld

Was Newgrange more than a tomb? Explore the fascinating symbolism of death, rebirth and immortality, and discover the mythology of Bóann, the Dagda, Aonghus Óg and the mysterious Otherworld of Irish tradition.

Session Four – The Light of Immortality

Drawing upon his own unforgettable experiences inside Newgrange during the winter solstice illumination, Anthony explores the enduring significance of the monument. What has humanity lost in its relationship with the natural world? And what might Newgrange still have to teach us about life, death, renewal and eternity?

A special setting in the Boyne Valley

The course takes place in the welcoming surroundings of Glebe House, Dowth, in the heart of the Boyne Valley, close to the great monuments of Brú na Bóinne.

The day will be relaxed, engaging and interactive, with plenty of opportunity for questions, discussion and the sharing of ideas.

Weather permitting, there will also be an opportunity to explore part of the surrounding historic landscape.

What's included

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  Four richly illustrated teaching sessions presented by Anthony Murphy

  
  


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  Printed illustrated course notes to take home

  
  


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  Tea, coffee and refreshments throughout the day

  
  


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  Opportunities for questions and discussion

  
  


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  A weather-permitting guided exploration of the Dowth landscape

  
  


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  An intimate learning experience with a maximum of 19 participants

  
  

Please note: Participants should bring their own lunch. The landscape exploration is subject to weather conditions. This event does not include admission to the Newgrange monument or its interior chamber.

About your presenter

Anthony Murphy is an Irish author, mythologist, photographer and founder of Mythical Ireland. He has spent more than 25 years researching and documenting the archaeology, astronomy, mythology and folklore of Ireland's ancient monuments.

He is the author of eleven published books, including Newgrange: Monument to Immortality, Island of the Setting Sun (with Richard Moore), and his latest work, Ireland: Land of Legend.

Through his books, photography, talks, tours and Mythical Ireland Academy courses, Anthony seeks to illuminate the ancient past and share the extraordinary stories of Ireland's landscapes and monuments.

Reserve your place

Places are strictly limited to just 19 participants to ensure a personal, engaging and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Saturday 12 December 2026

10am–5pm | Glebe House, Dowth

Course Admission €195 | Course + PDF Book €215

We look forward to welcoming you for a very special day exploring the mysteries of Newgrange, the people who built it, and the enduring human quest for immortality.

The optional PDF is the original 2012 edition of Newgrange: Monument to Immortality. The course incorporates subsequent archaeological discoveries and research, offering fresh perspectives on the book's original themes.