Newgrange Winter Solstice 2014

On the days around the Winter Solstice when the skies are clear the rising sun illuminates the passage and chamber of the 5000 year old megalithic passage tomb at Newgrange in the Boyne Valley. Conditions were perfect on Friday 19th December for a magnificent solstice morning at Newgrange.

The rising sun at Newgrange

Winter Solstice Sunbeam in the Newgrange passage

The white quartz glows in the sunlight at Newgrange

A perfect sunrise to illuminate the passage and chamber at Newgrange

The solstice lottery winners were experiencing a wonderful sunrise in the Newgrange chamber while the people outside waited patiently for their turn to enter the chamber

The sunbeam retreating from the passage at Newgrange

5000 year old solar alignment

Above the entrance to Newgrange there is a opening called a roof box. On mornings around the winter solstice a beam of light penetrates the roof box and travels up the 19 meter passage and into the chamber. As the sun rises higher, the beam widens so that the whole chamber is dramatically illuminated.

Access to the chamber on the Solstice mornings is decided by a lottery that takes place at the end of September each year. All are welcome to gather outside the entrance to the Newgrange mound on each of the mornings from December 18th to December 23rd inclusive, sunrise is at 8.58am.

Newgrange Winter Solstice Archive

Newgrange Roof-box : Winter Solstice Sunbeam

Boyne Valley Day Tours

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Exploring the Boyne Valley

The Boyne Valley is one of Ireland’s most rewarding historic landscapes and lies at the heart of Ireland's Ancient East. Within a relatively small area you can experience over 5,000 years of history, from Stone Age monuments to monastic ruins and Norman castles.

The centerpiece is Newgrange, a 5,000 year old passage tomb and UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its winter solstice illumination. Nearby are Knowth and Dowth, both richly decorated with megalithic art and wonderful views across the River Boyne.

For a more intimate prehistoric site, Fourknocks Passage Tomb offers a quieter atmosphere and beautifully preserved carvings. Further west, Loughcrew Cairns crown the hilltops with panoramic views and remarkable Stone Age art, illuminated by the rising sun at the spring and autumn equinoxes.

The ceremonial heart of ancient Ireland is the Hill of Tara, associated with kingship and ritual. Nearby, the Hill of Slane is traditionally linked with Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity.

Early Christian Ireland is represented by the magnificent high crosses and round tower at Monasterboice. The great Cistercian abbeys of Mellifont Abbey and Bective Abbey date from the 12th century and mark a golden age of monastic building in the region.

For medieval history, Trim Castle is the standout, the largest Norman castle in Ireland and one of the best preserved in Europe.

Exploring Wicklow

If you would like a change of scenery, Wicklow offers some of Ireland's finest landscapes just south of Dublin. A Wicklow Day Tour typically includes the monastic settlement of Glendalough, founded in the 6th century by Saint Kevin, with its round tower, lakeside walks, and dramatic valley setting.

The Wicklow Mountains provide classic Irish mountain scenery, with heather covered slopes, wide open views, and scenic drives. One of the highlights is Lough Tay, often called the Guinness Lake, an iconic viewpoint in the mountains.

Private tours can be tailored around your pace and interests, with time to enjoy the landscape, stories, and photography stops along the way.

Ireland's Ancient East Books Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.