Winter solstice magic and carols ring out in Muckross

Cecilia and Deirdre O’Shea, from Muckross, were at Newgrange for the sunrise

Two Killarney women had the good fortune to be at Newgrange for the spectacular winter solstice dawn.

Cecilia and Deirdre O’Shea, from Muckross, were there for the sunrise was at 8.58am courtesy of the Office of Public Works decision to hold a lottery draw for places in the chamber.

A selected group got to stand inside the burial chamber of the 5,000-year-old neolithic passage tomb in Co Meath.

Members of the Muckross Voices choral group rehearsing in the cloisters of Muckross Abbey, in Killarney National Park, before their busy schedule of performances during Christmas, from left, Mary O’Mahony, Fiona Stewart, Lorraine Hurley, Helen O’Donoghue, Tara O’Connor, Jean Hamilton and Nicola Courtney, choral director.
Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan

The winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon that marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on 21 or 22 December, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn.

At sunrise on the shortest day of the year, for 17 minutes, direct sunlight can enter the Newgrange monument through the specially contrived small opening above the entrance known as the roof box to illuminate the Chamber.

Meanwhile, back in Cecilia and Deirdre’s home parish, the Muckross Voices choral group made the most of the magnificent acoustics to get in some last minute rehearsal sfor their busy Christmas schedule.

Happy Christmas from KillaneyToday.com Call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com