This year was possibly the best 'solstice' December 21st event I've yet witnessed, the sun shone all day and all the folks at Newgrange, Loughcrew and Dowth were in fine form. The highlight was definitely witnessing the surprise illumination of the south chamber in Dowth despite the pesky trees. I usually react to unexpected excitement with joy but this was, even for my stony heart, a highly moving event. Its always great when the weather allows a superb sunrise at Newgrange, it is a great sight but it is also somewhat familiar and predictable for those of us outside. The dazzling light moving along the backstone of the chamber of Dowth however felt like the old mound was sharing its little secret with us for the very first time. I can start to imagine now what it must be like to be inside Newgrange on a sunny solstice morning. An added bonus is not having to share the space in Dowth with VIP's more interested in getting on the news.

http://www.shadowsandstone.com/gallery/2262977/1

I will be adding more photos daily, it will probably end up a very large gallery!

The Irish Times on the 22nd December had two good articles, of Newgrange of course ( http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/1222/1166138332405.html you need to pay I think to read :( ) but also a great surprise was a report from Knockroe. A crowd of almost 100 gathered there but were dissapointed, despite the clear skies the sun didn't illuminate the carvings in the passage: http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/1222/1166138332403.html (again you may have to pay). One very interesting comment in the article from the archaeologists, they are going to make a decision sometime soon on whether or not to 'reconstruct' Knockroe passage tomb, the 'Newgrange of the South'.

Happy solstice and have a great xmas folks from myself, the wife and the bump :)