OPW welcomes winners of OPW's Annual Lottery back to Newgrange to experience the Winter Solstice

The Office of Public Works (OPW) this morning once again welcomed the lucky lottery winners to experience the significant Winter Solstice sunrise from within the Chamber at the Neolithic Passage Tomb of Newgrange.

Since 2000, the Office of Public Works has operated a Lottery Draw for a place in the chamber at Newgrange to witness the Winter Solstice each year on 21 December. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not possible to welcome visitors to the Monument in 2020 or 2021. Exceptionally for both years, the Office of Public Works organised the livestreaming of the Winter Solstice to compensate for the absence of the annual Lottery Draw. As the chamber was vacant, it offered viewers a unique and unparalleled opportunity to witness the rays of light from the rising sun as they entered the chamber.

Minister Patrick O’Donovan, Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, said:

“I am delighted to welcome the lucky winners of the very popular OPW Solstice Lottery competition to Newgrange to witness first hand this archaeological phenomenon. For many people, the Winter Solstice is a very significant and special occasion, where we bid farewell to the long dark evenings and herald a bright beginning for the year ahead.”

The solar alignment of the passage tomb at Newgrange to face the rising sun on winter solstice is a significant astronomical finding of global importance. Originally rediscovered by Prof. Michael J. O’Kelly in 1967, other researchers have validated O’Kelly’s interpretation giving it scientific credibility and meaning. Analysis of high-resolution imagery taken during last year’s research programme, now adds to the convincing body of evidence that the solar illumination of the tomb was intentional.

For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

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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.

In line with the revised government guidelines, Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre and the site at the Newgrange Monument are currently open to visitors. Access to the site is only available through the Visitor Centre, which is open daily from 9am to 4pm. For further information and online booking please visit heritageireland.ie.

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