Hundreds of people are gathering at Newgrange in Co Meath to mark the shortest day of the year.
Admission to the ancient passage tomb of Newgrange for the Winter Solstice sunrise is by lottery only.
There were 29,503 applications submitted for the 2013 Draw.
If it is a cloud-free morning, the rising sun lights up the chamber of the 5,000-year-old tomb.
There are also a number of other events are taking place around the country to mark the shortest day.
