Newgrange Solstice - 18th December 2011
At Newgrange in the Boyne Valley, a beam of sunrise enters through the roof-box on mornings around the Winter Solstice, travels the 19-metre passage, and illuminates the inner chamber. The photographs below record that dawn on 18th December 2011, from first light through low cloud to a brilliant sunbeam reaching the chamber.
Sunrise at 8:51am
8:53am - The Solstice Lottery Winners are in the chamber waiting for the sunbeam to reach them
8:54am - The sunbeam beginning to illuminate the passage
8:55am - The Solstice Sunbeam in the passage
8:56am - Cloud on the horizon partially obscuring the sunrise
8:57am - The sun breaking through the low cloud
9:00am - Sunbeam still not at full strength due to the low cloud
9:01am - The sun finally breaks through the low cloud
9:03am - A brilliant sunrise
9:04am - Perfect sunrise to illuminate the chamber which is at the end of a 19 metre passage
9:06am - The sunbeam from the opening over the door travels all the way to the chamber
9:09am - Perfect conditions for the Winter Solstice illumination at Newgrange
9:12am - Newgrange Quartz Wall
9:17am - Solstice Lottery Winners emerge from the chamber
9:37am - Sun light still in the passage
Newgrange Winter Solstice Archive
- 21st December 2025 Winter Solstice.
- 19th December 2024 Winter Solstice.
- 19th December 2023 Winter Solstice.
- 20th December 2022 Winter Solstice.
- 20th December 2020 Winter Solstice.
- 18th December 2016 Winter Solstice.
- 20th December 2015 Winter Solstice.
- 19th December 2014 Winter Solstice.
- 21st December 2013 Winter Solstice.
- 18th December 2011 Winter Solstice.
- 22nd December 2010 Winter Solstice.
- 19th December 2010 Winter Solstice.
- 18th December 2010 Winter Solstice.
- 22nd December 2009 Winter Solstice.
- 21st December 2009 Winter Solstice.
- 21st December 2008 Winter Solstice.
- 21st December 2007 Winter Solstice.
- 22nd December 2006 Winter Solstice.
- 21st December 2006 Winter Solstice.
- 21st December 2005 Winter Solstice.
- 20th December 2005 Winter Solstice.
- 21st December 2004 Winter Solstice.
- 19th December 2004 Winter Solstice.
- 21st December 2003 Winter Solstice.
- 22nd December 2002 Winter Solstice.
- 21st December 2001 Winter Solstice.
Setting Sun Alignments
The Winter Solstice Setting Sun illuminates the chamber at the nearby Dowth mound and at the cairn on Slieve Gullion in Co. Armagh.