Around 2,000 people gathered at Newgrange to celebrate the Winter Solstice.
The ancient passage tomb is aligned for the rising sun on the shortest day of the year to shine into the inner chamber.
However due to cloud cover, the sun failed to light up the inner chamber.
Just 14 people get the rare privilege of being inside the chamber at Newgrange for sunrise on the shortest day of the year.
They are two guides and six winners of the free solstice lottery and their companions.
Several of this year’s winners live overseas but one is based in Balbriggan, Dublin.
Thousands more celebrate the prospect of brighter days to come outside the passage tomb.
This year’s winter solstice, the exact time when the sun reaches its lowest point in the Northern Hemisphere sky, is 3.03pm.
Celebrations at Brú no Bóinne will continue this evening at Dowth where the passage tomb is aligned with the solstice sunset.