The annual Winter Solstice Lottery Draw took place at the Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre at Newgrange in Co Meath on Monday, October 7.
38 winners have now been selected to have the opportunity to access the Newgrange Chamber in Co Meath over this year's winter solstice period in December.
Ireland's Office of Public Works (OPW) said that this year, a number of entries were received from Ireland and locations around the globe, with winners hailing from as far as Austria, Canada, France, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the US.
The winners, along with a guest, will have access to the Newgrange Chamber on one of the days between December 19 and December 23.
Chairman of the @opwireland , John Conlon today congratulated the winners of the Winter Solstice Lottery Draw for 2024. The draw took place today at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre at Newgrange.
Full details👉https://t.co/NEEfTqxhQY#Newgrange #WinterSolstice@heritageireopw pic.twitter.com/q5FSxkbDqm
— Office of Public Works (@opwireland) October 7, 2024
On Monday, John Conlon, Chairman of the OPW, expressed his gratitude to the children of Donore, Knockcommon, and Slane National Schools for their involvement in drawing the lucky winners.
Conlon said: “The lottery draw brings great excitement as each winner and their location is announced.
"The Winter Solstice at Newgrange is a unique event that attracts visitors from around the globe, as evidenced by the diverse locations of this year's winners.
"I have no doubt that each winner will be delighted with their good fortune and will truly appreciate this unique event."
Winter solstice at Newgrange in Co Meath. (Ireland's Content Pool)
The Winter Solstice is an astronomical phenomenon that marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21 or 22, 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, not through the doorway, but through the specially contrived small opening above the entrance known as the ‘roof box,' to illuminate the Chamber.
The site at the Newgrange Monument is only open to visitors through Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, which is open daily. For further information and online booking, visit HeritageIreland.ie.
Recordings of the livestreaming events from Newgrange in 2020, 2021, and 2023 are available on the OPW's YouTube channel.
Comments