Past Events 2007

CELEBRATE THE WINTER SOLSTICE WITH A FREE TRADITIONAL MUSIC CONCERT

Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre,
Donore,
Co. Meath

Tel: +353 (0) 41 988 0300
Fax: +353 (0) 41 982 3071
Email: brunaboinne@opw.ie

Enjoy the Craic and Ceol with Coscán at Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre on Sunday December 16th from 2.00pm – 4.00pm 
For many years this Solstice Concert has marked the beginning of the Christmas season for many of the local people who live near the centre. It is an opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the shops and to have a chat with neighbours and old friends.

It is appropriate that Brú na Bóinne should be the focal point for local celebration as 5,000 years ago, the great monument of Newgrange was the place where people gathered to mark the beginning of the new year and the end of the longest nights.

From Monday the 18th of December people will come to Newgrange to start this years dawn watch. A different group of people will gather in the chamber each morning for dawn until the morning of December 23rd. All those who gather are hoping for clear skies so that they can witness an event planned 5000 years ago.

The Office of Public Works holds an annual lottery for places in the chamber at dawn during the winter Solstice. This year there were 28,106 applications.

This year is extremely special for Newgrange as it marks the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the solstice. To mark this occassion The Office of Public Works will broadcast the event.  It will be available at www.heritageireland.ie