Newgrange winter solstice sunrise record

A record number applied to witness the earths most ancient purposeful place of ritual inside newgrange in Ireland. More than 27,000 people from around the world applied for one of the coveted places inside the ancient chamber of Newgrange to experience the winter solstice and ancient new year.

Just 100 people will have won by lottery a place inside the ancient chambers of the giant Stone Age Newgrange, and yet reserve and other visitors will travel on the chance of winning this special once in a lifetime experience - inside Newgrange witnessing the winter solstice.

Solstice, the time when the sun stands still for a few days around the 21st and 22nd of December is the shortest day of the year. During the solstice the sun appears to stand still in the sky in that its position at midday does not seem to change to the human eye. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and the morning sun will shine deep in the mysterious tomb of Newgrange in County Meath the oldest man made roofed structure on earth. one of the country's top tourist attractions. Newgrange shows clearly the ancient Irish must have held the time of year with great significance. Estimates suggest that the construction of the Passage Tomb at Newgrange would have taken a work force of 300 at least 20 years to complete.

Newgrange dates to about 3200 BC, and experts say was being constructed at least 1,000 years before Britain's Stonehenge and 500 years before Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza - Newgrange is believed to be the world's oldest continuously roofed building. Newgrange designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracts 200,000 visitors per year. You can visit but note that there is no direct access to the Passage Tomb at Newgrange, access is by guided tour only from the areas Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.

Only 20 members of the public a day are allowed into the 19-metre-long (63-foot-long) chamber for a chance to watch the phenomenon - with the first group getting in on Monday. The huge tomb was carefully aligned by its Neolithic builders so the sun only cuts through the gloom of the chamber in midwinter at sunrise through a small window above the entrance. "Over 27,000 people applied to get in this year," said Claire Tuffy, manager of the Bru na Boinne visitor centre, which acts as an interpretative centre for Newgrange.

Children from three local schools picked 100 names, the first 50 who are offered a place and allowed to bring a friend and a second 50 as a reserve list. This year, people are due to travel from the United States, Austria, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands and Britain. Having won the first lottery, the winners then hope for clear skies.

"It is a lot of expense for people who have already been here on holiday this year. It takes some leap of faith to pay out for a big air ticket and come here in the hope the weather will be good. Yet I have never heard anybody say it wasn't worth it even if the sun is elusive," said Tuffy, "There is a special feeling being in the gloom of the chamber waiting for the sun to rise."

The specially chosen visitors are allowed into the chamber every morning up until December 23 - with Thursday's solstice being the main attraction as hundreds also gather outside the tomb and a number of VIPs attend.

If skies are clear, the rising sun slowly shines all the way down the passage into the centre of the tomb. From the time the sun's rays enter the chamber to when they disappear again can take up to 17 minutes.

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Newgrange winter solstice sunrise record