Mr. Brian Hayes, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) today congratulated the lucky winners in the Winter Solstice Lottery Draw for 2013. The Draw takes place each year in the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre to select the names of the people who will be allowed access to the Newgrange chamber over the winter solstice period. This year the OPW received almost 29,500 applications, from destinations all around the world, proof of the enduring popularity of this amazing annual cultural showpiece.
Minister Hayes also reminded schoolchildren that OPW are running the Newgrange Art Competition again this year. “I am delighted to announce that the art competition is open to both primary and post-primary school children this year from 3rd class to 6th year. The prize is highly coveted - six lucky winners, along with a parent/guardian, will be present in the chamber at Newgrange on the Solstice morning. This is an extraordinary privilege, both for the schoolchildren and lottery draw winners alike and I congratulate the lottery winners and wish the students the best of luck with their entries.”
The 50 winning lottery tickets were chosen by children from three local national schools, Donore NS, Knockcommon NS and Slane NS and hailed from diverse locations such as USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Austria, England and many Counties throughout Ireland. The winning applicants have access to the chamber on one of the days between 18 and 23 December. On these dates, light from the rising sun enters the Newgrange chamber and illuminates the ancient passage tomb. The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, also marks the changing of the seasons, when days become longer and nights become shorter. It was considered by the ancients as a time of growth, a time of rebirth and marks an important day in our calendar.
Note for Editors:
The Newgrange Winter Solstice Art Competition 2013
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is running an Art Competition for primary and post-primary school children, with the winning entrants being present for the Winter Solstice at Newgrange on December 21st 2013.
To enter, students must be enrolled in one of the following Primary or Post-Primary classes in September 2013. There are three categories and two winners will be chosen from each of these categories:
(a) 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th Class – Primary
(b) 1st, 2nd & 3rd Year – Post-Primary
(c) 4th/Transition, 5th & 6th Year - Post-Primary
This year we will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the inscription of Brú na Bóinne on the World Heritage Sites list and we hope this will inspire entrants to create an artwork on the following theme:
Newgrange – The Winter Solstice
The annual Winter Solstice sun show at Newgrange is a world famous event. Five thousand years ago the Neolithic builders engineered the monument so that sunlight could enter the vaulted chamber at dawn on the shortest days of the year. On clear Solstice mornings, the chamber at the end of the passage is illuminated and bathed in a wonderful golden glow.
Entry is Free – full details and rules of the competition are available on www.heritageireland.ie.
Queries should be directed to: solstice2013@opw.ie
Winners will be present in the chamber with a parent/guardian on the morning of 21st December for one of the most important events in the heritage calendar.
Closing date for receipt of entries is Friday 15th November 2013.
All entries (clearly marked Art Competition) should be posted/delivered to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, Donore, Co Meath.