38 winners selected from more than 34,000 entries for Newgrange Winter Solstice

Ruoxue Fan 11 Donore National School, Mila kirkpatrick 10 St Patricks Slane, Emilia diaz 11 Scoil Naomh pio Knockcommon. Pictured during the Winter Solstice Lottery Winners Draw at Brú na Boinne, Newgrange, Co. Meath. A select number of places where available across the 5 solstice mornings for exclusive access to the chamber at Newgrange. Photos: Gareth Chaney

Thirty-eight people have been selected from more than 34,000 entries for the chance to experience the Winter Solstice inside the Newgrange Chamber at Brú na Bóinne this December.

The annual Winter Solstice lottery draw took place at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre in County Meath, with children from three local primary schools helping to select this year’s winners.

Pupils from Donore National School, Scoil Naomh Pio in Knockcommon and St Patrick’s National School in Slane took part in the draw, which attracted 34,263 online entries from Ireland and around the world.

Each of the 38 winners will be allowed to bring a guest into the Newgrange Chamber at dawn during the Winter Solstice period in December 2026.

Winners from across the world

The Office of Public Works confirmed that successful applicants came from Canada, Germany, India, Poland, North Macedonia, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Irish winners were also selected from Armagh, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Limerick and Meath.

Newgrange, part of the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Property, is known for its alignment with the rising sun around the Winter Solstice.

At this time of year, sunlight can enter the passage and illuminate the chamber at dawn, weather conditions permitting.

The annual lottery gives a small number of people the opportunity to witness the event from inside the monument.

Local schoolchildren help select winners

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, thanked the local schoolchildren and teachers who helped with the draw.

“The Winter Solstice at Newgrange is a unique event that captures the imagination of people in Ireland and across the world, which is reflected in the locations of the lucky winners,” he said.

“The annual lottery draw is also a special occasion for the local community, with children from three local schools playing an important role in selecting the lucky winners.”

The Minister also thanked staff at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre for organising the event.