Spring has sprung - vernal equinox falls today

Spring officially begins today, the day of the vernal equinox.

It falls when the rising sun penetrates the passage of cairn T at Loughcrew in Co Meath, illuminating the backstone.

The vernal equinox, like its autumnal counterpart, is not fixed on any certain date, although almost by definition it comes around at yearly intervals.

This year, it will occur at 5.32pm today.