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Thanks.

I'm Major Jackson, and this is The Slowdown.

Thank you. And this is the slowdown.

Years ago, my family and I took a trip to Ireland.

When we arrived, we were too early to check into our Airbnb.

We were exhausted, but thought to take a morning drive.

We chose a destination by placing a finger on the map.

The car rental agent handed to us.

Dylan and Romy called out its name.

New Grange. It didn't look far from the airport, so it was decided.

I was initially tentative pulling out onto the highway, but it was my third trip to the Emerald Owl.

I felt comfortable driving on the left side of the road. When we reached New Grange, the sheer size of the circular mound surprised us.

We walked into the ancient and dark burial site and listened to the guide discuss its

construction, carbon dating, megalithic art.

But what fascinated me was this. Each winter solstice,

the rising sun lights up a roofbox, then follows a path along the chambered passageway

...