Dowth

Dowth [Ir. dubad, growing dark (?), turning black (?)]. Giant passage-grave (previously tumulus) of the Boyne valley, the eastern-most of the celebrated trio Newgrange (Brug na Bóinne), Knowth, and Dowth. With a diameter of 280 feet and height of 47–50 feet, it has approximately the same dimensions as the others. All are now dated between 2500 and 3200 BC, or earlier than estimates made in the early 20th century. While not easily accessible to visitors today, Dowth was so ill-treated by amateur antiquarians, the Office of Public Works, and vandals that one recent commentator described it as the ‘flea market’ of Irish passage-graves. Dowth contains two tombs with much ornate carving that has been less studied than the art of Newgrange or Knowth. As with the other two passage-graves, Dowth is sometimes seen as the home of Angus Óg, but it generally plays a small role in the Irish imagination, most often as an allusion.

Bibliography

See Michael J. O'Kelly , Newgrange: Archaeology, Art and Legend (Dublin, 1983).