Every year, the archaeological site of Newgrange is the center of attention in Ireland! The winter solstice is a much-anticipated event, as it is the rare moment when the sun rises, bathing the depths of the prehistoric tomb in light! On this occasion, the Irish Office of Public Works (OPW) took the opportunity to broadcast the phenomenon live on YouTube. So you can attend the event from the comfort of your own home!
Mark your calendars! The winter solstice lasts 3 days in Ireland! Three days when the rising sun will bathe the magnificent Newgrange corridor tomb in County Meath, Ireland, in light!
Newgrange at winter solstice – Brian Morrison – © Tourism Ireland
The event runs from Monday December 20 to Wednesday December 22, and can be watched on the OPW YouTube channel live or in replay.
It’s great to once again be able to broadcast the Winter Solstice Sunrise live for three days to the four corners of the world!
Watching the light seep into the five-thousand-year-old corridor tomb in real time is a moving event that has the power to make us marvel at the ingenuity of ancient architects. said the OPW in a statement.
The event is both magical and spectacular: sunlight streams through the roof box to strike the bottom of the cairn. A phenomenon that was clearly intentional on the part of the builders at the time.
As a reminder, the winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon that marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice takes place on December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly on the Tropic of Capricorn.
It’s on this very day that the sunlight can penetrate the Newgrange monument. Not through the door, but through a small, specially designed opening above the main door (known as the roof box). The event lasts just 17 minutes, but attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Nevertheless, the event is so special that a lottery is organized every year to allow a few lucky people inside the alley tomb to witness the magical event.
Unfortunately, for the second year running, the lottery draw has been cancelled as the visiting tomb room remains closed to the public due to ongoing health restrictions…
To see the event live, click here: OPW YouTube channel.
17 May 2024 
