THE POSSIBILITY that Newgrange could close to the public “is no longer a topic for discussion” due to the success of the Brú na Bóinne visitors’ centre in managing the huge numbers of tourists visiting it.
That’s according to Clare Tuffy, manager of the centre, who yesterday accompanied some of the winners of a lottery for tickets to experience the winter sun illuminate the inner chamber of the national monument.
This morning Government Ministers and dignitaries will experience the official winter solstice, but for a number of days either side of December 21st the 5,000-year-old chamber is also filled with the rising sun’s light.
Around 235,000 people visit Newgrange and its neighbouring passage graves at Knowth and Dowth each year, but in the 1990s there was concern that the numbers were not being controlled and that Newgrange, the most popular of the passage graves, would have to be closed to the public.
“There are fewer people visiting Newgrange now than 20 years ago and since the centre opened the visitors are stretched out throughout the year; it is no longer a seasonal event,” Ms Tuffy explained.
“One of the most positive aspects of it is that it has restored the monument to its rural setting – you can hear the birds sing now, whereas before you wouldn’t because of the sounds of the buses and cars. Twenty years ago people were talking about closing it, but now it’s not a topic for discussion.”
With the prospect of waiting lists being booked out for 10 years in advance, Ms Tuffy said it was decided to hold a lottery, and 32,995 people from all over the world entered this year’s draw.
Among the lucky 10 chosen for yesterday’s visit was Luka Walshe (14) and his mum Mary, who only had to drive from Dublin.
“It was brilliant, it was really great. It’s not very big and it’s kind of surreal, but it’s amazing,” he said afterwards.
Also relishing the once-in-a-lifetime experience was Joy Quintana, deputy to the ambassador to Ireland from the Philippines. “It was very exciting and a rare privilege to experience,” she said.
Roquena Domingo, who is staying in Ireland for the festive season, said: “It is very intense to think that since it was built 5,000 years ago; that people have been seeing the solstice here and you can feel that connection.”
Celebrating the end of the winter and the start of the Celtic New Year were druids Annette Peard and Anne-Marie Murphy, from Tara. “It’s a great opportunity to celebrate and honour the light coming back to the Earth,” said Ms Murphy.
Ms Peard said each of the sacred sites such as Newgrange, Tara and Loughcrew mark a different event in the year such as the solstice or equinox. “It is an honour to walk in the path of our ancestors.”