I haven't been to Newgrange but it is definitely on my list of places to visit. It was constructed around 3,200 BC (over 5000 years ago!) making it one of the oldest structures in the world with a solar alignment. Stonehenge was built in stages, but Newgrange is older than the earliest part of Stonehenge by at least 500 years.

I'd like to visit Newgrange on the winter solstice since that is the day that the sun's light shines down the interior passage. There are two roof-boxes made of quartz that appear to have been removed and replaced to allow the light to shine in. This suggests that the people who lived back then used Newgrange as part of a winter solstice ritual. This also makes sense because Newgrange is a burial chamber, and winter solstice is sometimes associated with death of the old year and rebirth of the new year.

Yes! Newgrange is a fantastic place to visit. I was born in Ireland and I've had the opportunity to visit Newgrange many times, on school trips mostly, although never during the solar alignment. Unfortunately it is almost impossible to get access during the solstice, since the chamber can only hold a handful of people at a time, and everyone wants to be there! They hold a lottery for people every year, and 20 or so lucky people are invited to attend this special event. I know of people who've been on the waiting list for more than a decade! Newgrange is a truly special place. It is one of many ancient burial sites in Ireland, not too far from the capital city, Dublin. It of course, is particularly special with the beautiful light box above its door. However, even when it is not lit up by the Sun, it is still spectacular to visit, with triskele (pron: tris-cal; triple spiral) carvings both inside and outside, and ancient Irish writing called Ogham writing, which consists of a series of lines The mound itself is actually an ancient burial ground called a megalithic passage tomb, where important people such as Aengus the High King of Tara were laid to rest. It is believed to also have been a place of worship, not unlike modern day churches/cemeteries I guess. The light box that is above the door demonstrates two things - firstly how important this Cairn was to the local people, and secondly, the fact that the Sun has been intriguing and guiding people for more than 5000 years. Newgrange is actually only one of a series of cairns or mounds in the Boyne Valley, a place called Brú na Bóinne (pronounced Broo na Boy-nea). The other two famous Cairns are called Knowth and Dowth (both rhyme with mouth). Although neither of these have the impressive light box of Newgrange any more, it is possible that 5000 years ago, they were just as important for the ancient pagan people of Ireland to worship.