When is the longest day of the year in Ireland?
With the clocks going forward in recent weeks, we've been able to enjoy brighter mornings and longer evenings, and it won't be long until the longest day of the year is here.
The Summer Solstice is the day that the sun is at its highest point in the sky, meaning it is the longest day of the year as a result of the amount of sunlight hours — and therefore the shortest night!
The day was historically celebrated by many cultures throughout the years, and is still seen as a cause to celebrate life through music, dance and events. The Summer Solstice is the day that the sun is at its highest point in the sky, meaning it is the longest day of the year as a result of the amount of sunlight hours — and therefore the shortest night! Pic: Getty Images
The Earth revolves around the Sun, and makes one rotation around every 365 days. The Earth's axis is tilted, however, with the Summer Solstice happening when the Earth's poles have their maximum tilt towards the sun.
As the sun reaches its highest point on June 21, it means we will have the most daylight of the year, however following the Summer Solstice, less daylight will be given as we move towards the Winter months.
The Summer Solstice is seen as the middle of summer and often referred to as midsummer — though in Ireland, it's barely a third of the way through the season! In Ireland, there will be about 17 hours of daylight, due to civil twilight which is a period between sunrise and sunset which will still make it feel bright. Pic: Getty Images
In Ireland, there will be about 17 hours of daylight, due to civil twilight, which is a period between sunrise and sunset, which will still make it feel bright.
While there are still some celebrations these days, the Solstice was a huge cause of celebration back in the day, with people often expressing their gratitude for surviving another year with good fortune and good food.
The day would be celebrated with feasts, music, bonfires and religious rituals.
Today, many will mark the Summer Solstice by visiting ancient monuments like Stonehenge or Newgrange.
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