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 21 or 22 December, 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 to illuminate the Chamber, not through the doorway, but through the specially contrived small opening above the entrance known as the ‘roof box’.
Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre and the site at the Newgrange Monument – though not the passage tomb itself – are open to visitors. Pre-booking tickets is essential – all visitors including children/infants must have a ticket. Access to the site is available through the Visitor Centre, which is open daily from 9am to 4pm. For further information and online booking, please visit heritageireland.ie
Watch the streaming of the Winter Solstice here:
