Hundreds attend annual Winter Solstice event at Newgrange

However, just a lucky few got to witness up close the illumination of the chamber’s passage by the rising sun early on this morning.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) welcomed this year’s lottery winners, drawn from thousands of hopefuls to experience the spectacular winter solstice sunrise from within the chamber at Newgrange.

They experienced the phenomenon of sunlight entering the monument through the roof box and along the passage to illuminate the chamber inside.

They hailed from near and far, including winners from Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Kilkenny and Meath as well as Austria and USA.

The winter solstice, which occurs around December 21 each year, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year.

At Newgrange, during the sunrise on the mornings around the winter solstice, a breathtaking alignment takes place. The sun’s first rays pierce through a specially designed opening above the entrance called a roof-box, gradually illuminating the narrow passage.

As the sun ascends, it…