Winter Solstice Celebrated Around the World through Captivating Live Stream Event

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. The lucky few hailed from near and far, including winners from Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Kilkenny and Meath as well as Austria and USA. In addition to the lottery winners, viewers from across the globe tuned in to view the event through the livestream link which was organised in collaboration with our colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

This morning, the sky was bright and clear, viewers got to experience the phenomenon of sunlight entering the monument through the roof box and along the passage to illuminate the chamber inside. Outside the monument, the usual joyful atmosphere of the Solstice could be felt, as hundreds gathered to celebrate.

Rosemary Collier, OPW Head of Heritage Services and Capital Works Delivery said:

“I am delighted to be here today to welcome the Winter Solstice lottery winners to Newgrange and to welcome all those tuning in via our livestream link. Visitors and viewers witnessed first-hand this archaeological phenomenon. The Winter Solstice is a time of reflection and renewal and marks a very significant and special occasion. This is a time where we bid farewell to the long dark evenings and welcome a bright beginning for the year ahead.”

Recordings of the livestreaming events in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 are available on the OPW's YouTube channel .

For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

Find us on Facebook @opwireland

Notes

Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice is an astronomical phenomenon which marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn. At Sunrise on the shortest day of the year, for 17 minutes, direct sunlight can enter the Newgrange monument, not through the doorway, but through the specially contrived small opening above the entrance known as the ‘roof box’, to illuminate the Chamber.

Access to the Newgrange Monument is only available to visitors via the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, which is open daily. For further information and online booking please visit heritageireland.ie .