Cloud fails to dim solstice experience Co. Meath

Submitted by Anonymous on Sunday, 26 December 2004 Page Views: 3641

Country: Ireland (Republic of) County: Co. Meath
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Spectacular sunrises at one of the world's most remarkable prehistoric monuments on the River Boyne, followed by grey wintry dawns, have marked this year's winter solstice at the site. Each morning this week, lucky winners from around the world have gathered at Newgrange in Co Meath in the hope of seeing the inner burial chamber lit up by a gleam of sun.

The shortest day of the year was Tuesday, but for several dawns on either side the rising sun shines into the heart of the 5,200 year-old tomb - unless cloud spoils the magical effect.

Demand for the few dozen solstice places at Newgrange is so great that a lottery is used and this year 24,000 people applied.

Many of those selected were rewarded with a run of three consecutive bright mornings ending on Tuesday.

To the Neolithic farmers who built Newgrange, the solstice was celebrated as an end to darkness through lengthening days.

In a stunning feat of ancient engineering that predates Stonehenge and the Pyramids, a roof box was placed with such precision at the mound that the sun gets in for up to 17 minutes on these handful of days.

On Wednesday, when there was heavy cloud cover, the Belfast Telegraph was among 25 visitors ushered into the stone chamber, to await 8.58am when the sun clears the local horizon.

Amid the pitch darkness, the narrow passage into the chamber was made visible by a vague shaft of light.

Kevin Farelly, a Dubliner who cut short a business trip to Australia to take his place alongside his French wife Madeleine, joked: "We are seeing heavily filtered sunlight."

But by 9.15am, the chance of witnessing the chamber properly lit up had passed.

There was shared disappointment as the group filed out, but visitors smiled and remained upbeat about the experience.

Among them was Taryn Esrock (24) and her 27-year-old boyfriend Jonathan Grasko from South Africa, who toured Newgrange during the summer and returned after winning a coveted place.

"It is a good experience but I would have liked the sun," said Taryn.

Jonathan, who also felt the trip was worthwhile, noted that it was the summer solstice back in Johannesburg.

"The days are getting shorter there, but they have the consolation of summer."

John Cunningham, a tour guide from Belleek in Fermanagh, said: "It could be worse - it might have been the opening day 5,000 years ago with all the elders standing around thinking: 'we spent 15 years building this and it doesn't work'."

One of the most local visitors, Paul O' Shea, who lives in Meath, also used humour to get over the lack of sun. "Oh well, we can always bend the story of our solstice visit when we tell it in years to come."

Also present was Joe and Colette McAtamney from Belfast, and their 23-year- old son Paul. "I was delighted to be here," said Paul. "I still enjoyed it."

Newgrange was rediscovered in 1699 but the roof box was not found until 1963. The chamber was opened to the public in the 1970s, rapidly attracting huge interest.

A solstice waiting list closed in 1985, and took until 2000 to work its way through, after which the lottery was established.

Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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