megalithic mounds such as newgrange entered irish mythology as sídhe or fairy mounds. newgrange was said to be the home of oenghus, the god of love. the passage tomb at newgrange was re-discovered in 1699 by the removal of material for road building. a major excavation of newgrange began in 1962; the original facade of sparkling white quartz was rebuilt using stone found at the site.