Draw for Newgrange solstice is made

The draw for this year's Newgrange winter solstice festivities has been made.

Just fifty people can fit into the chamber at the ancient site in Co Meath when it fills with light on the shortest day of the year.

Today, schoolchildren have been selecting the winning entries from more than 24,000 applications.

Some of the lucky ones are locals but others are from as far a field as Morocco, Canada and Poland.

Claire Tuffy of the Newgrange Visitor Centre has said: “It is nice now to look forward to sending letters out because people get so excited when they hear that their names have been drawn out.”

“As you can see from the great number of applications, you are really lucky if you are chosen.”

“Now all they have to do is hope that they will have clear skies in the morning.”