Newgrange: Integration with Art

Early Irish Art

The earliest art to survive in Ireland is from the Stone Age. It dates to about 3,500 BC. Most of this art is found at megalithic tombs such as Newgrange. It is made up of different designs, for example spirals and zig-zags. Sometimes there are flower designs and faces as well.

The designs are carved into huge rocks at these tombs. They are also found on pottery and other objects inside them. These designs were probably painted on objects and carved into wood as well. However, materials like paint and wood do not survive today. This type of artwork is mainly found in tombs in the Boyne valley in Co. Meath, such as Newgrange and Knowth. There is also some found in Iberia and Brittany.

Here are some interesting pieces of Neolithic art work for you to look at....

The Entrance Stone at Newgrange

Lough Crew, Co.Meath Orthostat C8

Knowth, Co. Meath, Orthostat 49

Question Time!

Here is some interesting artwork by a local textile artist, Margaret Walsh!

Frosty morning at Newgrange. Margaret Walsh is a textile artist living in Co. Meath, Ireland, and her craft is primarily felting. She lives very close to where the River Boyne flows out to the Irish sea. Her inspirations are the ancient sacred sites of the Boyne Valley and the seashore. Margaret is often down by the shore, hoping to find interesting and unusual items of natural beauty that has been washed up by the tide. She takes inspiration from her surroundings, for all her art pieces, whether it is wall hangings, sculptures, jewellery or accessories. She loves felting because it is so versatile, and in recent years this textile medium has become Margaret's love and crafting passion, it can be shaped and cut, sewn and embellished in all manner of ways producing marvellous works of art. Margaret's background is primarily sewing, and most of her art pieces have beaded and hand sewn details added, as finishing touches.