Many people are planning trips to see the aurora borealis this year, as scientists predict that by 2024 there will be more opportunities to experience the skies than ever before. However, some of the best stargazing can be found a little closer to home.
Ireland has many internationally recognized locations for stargazing. The top park is located in Wild He Nefyn National Park on Mayo, home to Ireland’s first international dark sky park.
Covering more than 93 square miles of landscape between the Neffin Mountains and the Atlantic coastline, Mayo Dark Sky Park offers some of the world’s darkest and most pristine skies. On a clear day, you can see thousands of stars from there, and on certain nights you can spot planets, the Milky Way, and even meteor showers with the naked eye.
The site is always completely free to access and has three distinctive viewing sites for visitors to choose from. The darkest accessible area is Brogan Carroll Bothy, located on the east side of the park near the town of Newport.
Further west on the Wild Atlantic Way, Ballycroy Visitor Center is open daily and provides interpretive and educational information about Wild Neffin National Park and Mayo Dark Sky Park. Meanwhile, on the Cragan Mountain Coastal Trail, along the promenade he walks a 1.24 meter path and can admire the sky.
Mayo Dark Sky Park offers tips and maps for campers and stargazers on its website. That includes advice such as bringing binoculars and using only red flashlight light as it takes him 20 minutes for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. It also hosts the annual International Dark Sky Week events in April and the Mayo Dark Sky Festival in November.
Another dark sky park in Ireland is Om Dark Sky Park and Observatory on Isle Tyrone. Here, visitors can take a fully guided tour of Dover’s 3,700 acres of Forest with an expert and stargaze using a 14-inch Meade telescope. The center combines a variety of technologies to help educate visitors, including holographic installations, virtual reality headsets, and custom nightly audiovisual shows.
Om Dark Sky Park is located near the ancient Bemore Stone Circle at the foot of the Sperrin Mountains, a landscape rich in history and of both archaeological and cultural importance. Visitors are free to roam the area and take advantage of the center’s outdoor observation deck.
Further south, the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve recently received Gold Tier status from the International Dark Sky Association. The reserve covers a large area including the areas of Kells, Cahersiveen, Portmagee, Valentia Island, The Glen, Ballinskelligs, Waterville, Dromid and Derrynan/Caherdaniel.
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It is the only Golden Stage reserve in the northern hemisphere and the only reserve with a playground, church, pub, hostel, beach and gardens. Kerry Dark Sky Tourism holds events throughout the year to inform people about special viewings. Ballinskelligs Beach is a particularly popular viewing spot, as is St Finian’s Bay.
The best time for stargazing in Ireland is from mid-August, when the Perseid meteor shower is visible, until winter, when the Pleiades star cluster usually appears. There’s also the Irish Astronomy Trail to discover more about the country.
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