Applications can be made by email to BrunaBoinne@opw.ie. Please supply your Name, Address, Country, Telephone number and email address.

People gather at Newgrange for the Winter Solstice dawn each morning from December 19th to December 23rd. Sunrise occurs at 8:58 am. Access to the chamber is determined by lottery, but all others are welcome to stand outside the Newgrange monument.

The lottery for places in the Newgrange chamber during the Solstice sunrise takes place in early October. Successful applicants are notified during the month of October.

Names are drawn for each Solstice morning, and each selected person may bring one guest to attend on their assigned day. Additional names are also drawn for a reserve list in case someone from the initial list cannot be reached or is unable to travel to Newgrange on their designated date.

The places awarded by lottery for Winter Solstice dawn at Newgrange are non-transferable. Lottery winners cannot transfer their spot in the chamber to anyone else. Typically, around 30,000 people enter the Solstice lottery each year.

There is no guarantee of sunlight in the chamber on any given morning, as the event is entirely weather-dependent.

Newgrange Winter Solstice Archive

Boyne Valley Private Day Tour

Immerse yourself in the rich heritage and culture of the Boyne Valley with our full-day private tours. Visit Newgrange World Heritage site, explore the Hill of Slane, where Saint Patrick famously lit the Paschal fire. Discover the Hill of Tara, the ancient seat of power for the High Kings of Ireland. Book Now