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.
Ideal for a first visit to the Boyne Valley, this private tour explores the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of Brú na Bóinne.
Visit Newgrange and Knowth with the official site guides,
then discover places associated with Ireland's ancient kings, mythology, and Saint Patrick.
The day also includes the Hill of Slane and the Hill of Tara.
Price €675 for up to six guests, plus booking fees.
Above the entrance to Newgrange there is an opening called a roof box.
On mornings around the winter solstice a beam of light penetrates the roof box and travels up
the 19 meters (62 feet) 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.
We had an amazing day with Michael Fox in the Boyne Valley. He was able to tailor the tour to our particular interests and seamlessly tied the sites together with a great depth of knowledge.
Read the full TripAdvisor review
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.
Newgrange entrance and roof box.