Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) and National Monuments Services (NMS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are delighted to announce that the Winter Solstice will be once again livestreamed from inside the ancient passage tomb at Newgrange, which is part of the Brú na Boinne UNESCO World Heritage Property.
Since the very first livestream of this event in 2020, viewers from around the world have been captivated by the beauty and wonder of the Winter Solstice. Each year, the livestream event allows audiences to witness this awe-inspiring event in high definition from the comfort of their own home. The livestream is accompanied by a wonderful narration that describes the event in detail. Our specialists, Dr. Clare Tuffy and Dr. Frank Prendergast, will guide you through this spectacular event, providing unique insights and perspectives on the significance of the Winter Solstice.
This year, we are delighted to announce that RTE will be broadcasting the livestream, allowing viewers from all corners of the globe to experience this magical experience.
This unique astronomical event showcases the rising of the sun on the shortest day of the year through the solar alignment of the passage tomb at Newgrange. On a clear morning at sunrise, direct sunlight enters the monument to illuminate the chamber for 17 minutes through a small opening above its entrance called the ‘roof box’.
Rosemary Collier, Head of Heritage Services and Capital Works Delivery in the Office of Public Works said:
“Every year, the Winter Solstice receives much attention worldwide. At Newgrange, visitors gather at the ancient tomb to celebrate and experience the illumination of this ancient passage tomb, just as people did over 5,000 years ago. I am delighted to announce that the Winter Solstice at Newgrange will be livestreamed again this year. People can share in this experience by watching the livestream online and on television in the comfort of their own homes.”
This December, we are inviting visitors from around the world to witness this ancient spectacle through the livestream link and experience the wonder of this celestial event and connect with a tradition that spans the millennia. The livestream will be available to watch on the RTÉ News channel, and worldwide on the RTÉ Player, RTE.ie and the RTÉ News app. It can be viewed via the following platforms:
Join us live on Saturday, December 21, as we stream the Winter Solstice from Ireland’s oldest UNESCO World Heritage Property. An additional Press Release with further details in relation to the livestream and accessing the monument will follow in the coming days.
OPW spokespersons are available for interview upon request to discuss the events. For further information please contact pressoffice@opw.ie
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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.
Recordings of the livestreaming events in 2020, 2021 and 2023 are available on the OPW's YouTube channel.