Newgrange at Dawn. PHOTO BY KEN WILLIAMS / OPW

Watch the magical Winter Solstice live from Newgrange

It is one of the wonders of the ancient world - and it still captivates us to this day.

In the early morning of December 21 each year, the light from the rising sun aligns perfectly with the ‘roof-box’ opening of the Newgrange neolithic passage tomb, travels up the 19m corridor and enters the watertight central chamber where it illuminates it completely.

And now, for the first time ever you too can be there, wherever you are and experience this magical phenomenon. A live stream will capture that amazing moment on December 21st when the darkness of the internal chamber is lit up and you will likely find yourself transfixed by the ingenuity of those early Irish some 5,000 years ago. 

The live stream will begin at 8.30am (We'll share the link in a post to our facebook page at 8.20am) and this year marks a very special anniversary too. It was 50 years ago that Newgrange’s great secret was first unveiled.  It marks the Winter Solstice and is the only time of the year this remarkable phenomenon takes place. One of the most striking of Ireland’s Ancient East’s monuments, it demonstrates the engineering and astrological know-how of our forebears of more than 5,000 years ago - and it helps bring us closer to those people who called this land home so many generations ago.

So, join us for the live streaming of the Winter Solstice will take place tomorrow at 8.30am.