Editing Architecture of Ireland (section)

==Pre-Christian Ireland==
[[File:Newgrange, Meath.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Entrance to [[Newgrange|Newgrange Tomb]], the most imposing monument in the [[Brú na Bóinne]] complex in [[County Meath]]]]
[[Newgrange|Grange]] [[stone circle]] is the largest such megalithic construction in Ireland. The earliest date from the [[Neolithic]] or late Stone Age. [[Megalithic]] tombs are relatively common, with [[court grave]]s or [[Court cairn|court tomb]]s being the oldest, some dating back to around 3500 BC. Such tombs consisted of a long chamber, with a large open area (or court) at the entrance. This "court" was generally marked out with [[standing stone]]s, with the rest of the structure also built in stone.

Passage tombs consisted of a central burial chamber, with a long passageway to the entrance. Again, standing stones were often used for the walls, with slabs of stone over the roof. Newgrange in particular is more interesting in that the inner chamber uses [[corbel]]ling to span the roof. The chamber and passageway were usually contained in an earthen mound, with the chamber at the centre (Newgrange is again notable in having exterior stonework on the mound). Other notable passage graves are [[Knowth]] and [[Dowth]], also in the [[Boyne Valley]] near [[Drogheda]].

From some time beginning around the Iron Age, Ireland has thousands of [[ring fort]]s, or "raths". These consist of an earthen embankment around a central enclosure, sometimes sited on a raised mound. In some cases, a [[souterrain]] (tunnel) forms part of the structure. These were built also as [[hill fort]]s depending on the local terrain, or indeed [[promontory fort]]s. [[Dún Aengus]] on the [[Aran Islands]] one of the best examples of these forts, which may have been occupied at various times, even in the mediaeval era.