One exciting way to spend winter solstice would be standing inside the passage tomb of
Newgrange in the Brú na Bóinne valley of Ireland when the sun rises. The passage tomb at Newgrange is aligned so that at dawn during the winter solstice the rays of the sun follow along its 60 foot passage way, ultimately illuminating the interior rock etchings. The effect lasts for about five mornings centered around December 21st. Sadly, there is only room for 10 people inside Newgrange at any one time and only two within the interior chamber; and so a lottery has been devised to give visitors a fair chance. This year a whopping 27,485 people applied for the right to stand inside Newgrange over the solstice!
Fortunately, there is a light and sound show that is played all day inside Newgrange for several days before and after the 21st so you can get a taste for the experience; and for those of us who can't make it to Ireland at all this year, there are several excellent photographs of the awe-inspiriing event published on
Knowth.com. And if you're planning on a visit to the
Brú na Bóinne Valley next winter, be sure to get your hands on a lottery application!
These photos are of Newgrange; the top photo is of the entrance, and was taken by
fach00xx; the lower is by
Sophie Robson
Comments
Hello there,
I’m just wondering how I get an application form for the 2009 Winter Solstice at Newgrange.
Please help.
Thanks
Christine
The “Solstice Lottery” link to Knowth.com leads to a page that says this (among other things):
“There is no on-line application system, however the obliging Staff at the Visitor Centre will fill out a form on your behalf. Email your postal details and a contact telephone number to brunaboinne@opw.ie and they will complete an application form on your behalf.”
That email should still work for 2009.