Filmed on December 21st, this video captures the Winter Solstice sunrise over Mount Errigal (An Earagail) in Donegal, as the sun lifted itself over the mountain shortly after 9:30am on the shortest day of the year.
The Winter Solstice marks the turning point of the year — the longest night giving way, at last, to the slow return of the light. For a brief moment, Errigal, Donegal’s highest mountain, caught that first soft winter glow.
In Irish, the Winter Solstice is known as Grianstad an Gheimhridh. Up here, it’s always been a time for slowing down — a pause before things start moving again.
I filmed this at the very start of my Winter and Christmas break. I was officially off work from the 19th and away in Donegal, taking a proper breather for once. Something I’m trying to make a habit of now — stepping away at the end of the year to avoid burnout and head back into January with the head screwed on.
There’s a saying you hear up this way — “Thig crìoch air an t-saoghal, ach mairidh gaol is ceòl.” The world might be in a hurry, but the hills aren’t.
Winter Solstice Sunrise Over Mount Errigal
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgLs54EtN98
There’s nothing rushed about mornings like this. No notifications, no timelines, just frost underfoot and the light doing its thing in its own time. Exactly the sort of reset you don’t realise you need until you’re standing in it.
If I can make this part of the rhythm each year — step back, head west, and let the year close itself out properly — I’ll be doing alright.
