Professor O'Kelly, an archaeologist, prepares to excavate a historical site at Newgrange that contains great spiritual significance. He says goodbye to his family because it is Christmastime and he will not see them for a while. The spirits haunting the site who have formed their own community. They enjoy the winter solstice because sunlight enters the dark chamber where they live; it is specifically positioned to capture this light. Dale, a spirit who can travel to the outside world, warns the rest of the dead that Professor O'Kelly is coming soon. A spirit storyteller named Sceal tries to defend himself when it is revealed that many of his stories are lies. He stubbornly refuses to tell stories anymore. Another spirit, Uasal, explains the complex spiral artwork within the cavern. A woman in the local town is the descendant of a woman from many years ago. Dalc had appeared to her, imploring her not to let humans know that light enters the burial chamber once a year. She learns that Professor O'Kelly is approaching to investigate the chamber. She and her second cousins debate ways to keep the professor out. After entering a bar, Professor O'Kelly explains that he wants to visit Newgrange, to which the bartender replies that he knows him, even though O'Kelly has never met him. Dalc tells the other spirits that the secret about the light has gotten out and now the professor will invade their sacred space. Meanwhile, local people purposefully act hostile towards O'Kelly because they see him as an intruder. Sceal tells the other spirits stories about a great warrior who lived while they were alive; they mourn the fact that they will never be alive ever again. The shortest day of the year arrives, leading Professor O'Kelly to begin his excavation. Cows, almost supernaturally, walk in front of him to block his path to Newgrange. He still manages to get in and witnesses as the sunlight cascades throughout the stone chamber; he sees the spirits firsthand as they gain energy from the light. Afterwards, he speaks to the owner of the local inn, one of the descendants of the woman to whom Dalc materialized. She tells him that he will be different from now on and that the immortal spirits must think that the lives of humans are very short and insignificant. Dalc begins to attend to the professor and observe him, bringing stories of his life back to her kin.