Mr. Simon Harris, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), today (26 September 2014) was in the Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre at Newgrange with the children of Donore, Knockcommon and Slane National Schools to launch the Newgrange Winter Solstice Art Competition for 2014 and the annual Winter Solstice Lottery Draw.

The Newgrange Winter Solstice Art Competition, run by the Office of Public Works is open to schoolchildren from 4th Class Primary up to 6th year Post-Primary, with the winning entrants being present for the Winter Solstice in the Newgrange Chamber on December 21 2014.

Speaking in Newgrange this morning, Minister Harris said "I am delighted that my Office, the OPW, is running this competition again this year. The winners last year were extremely lucky as the sun came streaming in the Chamber for the first time in several years. The competition is growing in popularity every year with over 600 entries from all over Ireland last year. I would also like to thank the ASTI, TUI and INTO for their help in promoting this competition again this year and encourage all to get involved. My congratulations also to the lucky winners of the lottery and I have no doubt they too will have a wonderful experience".

The Winter Solstice Lottery draw takes placeeach year to select the names of the people who will be allowed access to the Newgrange Chamber over the winter solstice period. This year, OPW received 30,542 applications, from destinations all around the world, proof of the enduring popularity of this amazing annual cultural experience.

The 50 lucky winners were chosen by the children amid great excitement and hailed from locations near and far such as England, Scotland, the USA, Germany, Australia and a first time winner from China. The winning applicants will have access to the chamber on one of the days between 18 and 23 December.

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For further information and if you wish to interview Minister of State Harris please contact Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer at 046 942 6128 or 087 947 5552 or colette.davis@opw.ie

Note to Editors:

The Newgrange Winter Solstice Art Competition 2014

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is running an Art Competition for primary and post-primary school children, with the winning entrants being present for the Winter Solstice at Newgrange on December 21 2014. To enter, students must be aged 10 or over on 21 December 2014 and be attending Primary or Secondary School in Ireland. There are three categories and two winners will be chosen from each of these categories:

(a) 4th, 5th & 6th Class – Primary (b) 1st, 2nd & 3rd Year – Post-Primary (c) 4th/Transition, 5th & 6th Year - Post-Primary

Entry is Free – full details and rules of the competition are available on www.heritageireland.ie.Queries should be directed to: solstice2014@opw.ie

Winners will be present in the chamber with a parent/guardian on the morning of 21 December for one of the most important events in the heritage calendar.

Closing date for receipt of entries is Friday 14 November 2014.

All entries (clearly marked Art Competition) should be posted/delivered to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, Donore, Co Meath.