Newgrange Solstice - 22nd December 2009

A chronological photographic essay of the Winter Solstice at Newgrange


8:46am - A promising horizon viewed from the entrance to Newgrange over a standing stone.



8:50am - Solstice watchers waiting for the sun to rise over Red Mountain.



8:54am - Sunrise viewed from the entrance to Newgrange over a standing stone.



8:56am - Beam of light shining through the roofbox, the sunbeam reaches the chamber at 8:58am.



8:59am - The white quartz glows in the sunlight.



8:59am - The sunbeam is illuminating the chamber through the 19 meter passage.



9:00am - Perfect conditions for the Solstice Lottery winners inside the Newgrange chamber.



9:04am - It's the sunbeam from the roofbox above the passage that reaches the chamber.



9:09am - Magnificent glow from the winter sunrise at Newgrange



9:10am - It's the higher sunbeam from the Roofbox that illuminates the chamber inside Newgrange.



9:12am - The Roofbox over the entrance where the solstice sun is beamed to the chamber.



9:14am - A long shadow from a Standing Stone.



9:17am - Waiting patiently for the Solstice Lottery winners to exit the chamber.



9:32am - The sunbeam has left the chamber but is still in the passage. There is a 15 minute gap since the last
photograph because I was inside the chamber with the group that had been waiting patiently at the entrance.



9:36am - Just a few stragglers and staff at the Newgrange entrance.



9:38am - Time to make way for the regular guided tours.



9:39am - A Robin at the Newgrange entrance.



9:41am - The shadow from the Standing Stone points to the Newgrange entrance.



9:43am - As we leave Newgrange the Robin poses for a final photo.