Red Sky over Dowth

Dowth is commonly referred to as the third of the three great Neolithic passage-tombs of the Brú na Bóinne complex, but archaeologists have reason to believe it was actually the first of the three to be constructed. Dowth is not on the official tour from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, which takes in Knowth and Newgrange, but it is in fact a most remarkable monument despite the ravages of time.

The mythology of Dowth suggests that it was built during a time of food shortage, when there was a "murrain" on the cattle of Ireland such that there was only one bull and seven cows left on the entire island. The king commanded "all the men of Erin" to build him a "tower" (for "tower", read "cairn") from which he could pass to heaven. The men asked for endless day so that they could complete their task. The king's sister was a powerful druidess and she magically made the sun stand still in the sky. However, lust seized the king and the two lay together in incestuous union, which broke the spell and caused a sudden darkness to come on the place.

The men abandoned their task, saying that forever more, the place would be known as Dubhadh, meaning "darkness", and that is where Dowth gets its name from.