One of the most mysterious sites of ancient Ireland will this morning attract devotees keen to observe the first light of the winter solstice.
Thousands are believed to have applied for permission to witness the first rays of light creep through the ancient monument at Newgrange, but only a handful are lucky enough to gain access to the structure's main chamber.
The world-famous monument is believed to date from around 3200 BC, making it 500 years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and a thousand years older than England's Stonehenge.
Archaeologists believe the grass-covered mound is a "passage tomb". This refers to a passage running to a cave-like chamber, where the remains of the dead were placed.
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