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Established
16/3/2000 |
 Baltray standing stones winter solstice 2008 |
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| The orb of the sun creeps up from the Irish Sea shortly after 8.38am at dawn on Winter Solstice 2008. You can see the Rockabill islands (with lighthouse) a short distance to the right in silouhette. |
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| The moment of sunrise was extraordinary. The sky was 98% covered in thick grey cloud and it was raining, adding a sort of watercolour haze to the scene. The 2% clear patch was just in the right place, in the southeast where the sun was rising. The 20 people who gathered at Baltray were treated to a beautiful dawn. |
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| The sun rises in line with the larger of the two standing stones at Baltray. |
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| Dawn gathering . . . some of those present decided to take in the sunrise by just enjoying the moment. |
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| Ann Hartigan, land owner at Baltray, recites from one of her poems. She had written about the standing stones in her poetry and the gathering was delighted by her reading. |
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| Conor Brady, Landscape Archaeologist with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) also gave a talk about standing stones and the archaeology of the area. He had been preceded by Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland who spoke about the mythological and astronomical significance of the alignment. The gathering had been organised by Aude Laffon, National Monuments Advisor to Louth County Council. All of us who enjoyed the morning, including full Irish breakfast at Brú na Bóinne afterwards, are extremely grateful to her. |
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