In pictures: Winter solstice celebrations at Newgrange

Crowds gathered from early on Saturday at Newgrange in Co Meath to honour the Celtic tradition of marking the winter solstice on the shortest day and longest night of the year.

Newgrange is a prehistoric monument thought to have been built by the Neolithics over 5,000 years ago so that the sun shone on the ashes of their dead in the tomb, representing a sign of rebirth.

A person looks at their phone in the darkness as people gather for sunrise at Newgrange. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Crowds watch the sun rising at Newgrange. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Tom King, also known as 'An Gobha', the Blacksmith of the Boyne Valley, pictured as people gather for sunrise at Newgrange. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

People celebrate the sun rising at Newgrange. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

A person becomes emotional as the sun rises at Newgrange. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA