Kerry Dark Sky Tourism

28/05/2024

FYI

22/05/2024

Thanks to Jacinta Foley O’Shea for these shots from Waterville

19/05/2024

Thanks to Linda Sigerson for some great pictures of the recent aurora from Ballinskelligs

07/04/2024

Fingers crossed for a clear sunset tomorrow evening

30/03/2024

***** Please Share *****

Just to clarify there is NO COVER CHARGE for Bog The Donkey & DJ Harper in The Village Inn - Kilworth for Sunday night.

The €20 charge mentioned on the poster is relating to registration of vehicles for the Truck, Tractor & Vintage Run on Sunday afternoon.

Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday

16/03/2024

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/KilworthTruckTractorVintageRun

Kilworth Truck, Tractor & Vintage Run Fu...

03/03/2024

On yer bike! Sign up and cycle!

05/01/2024

An absolute gem from one of the great champions of the Kerry International Dark Sky reserve and its treasures. Vincent is an amazing person, who has produced an incredible book.

31/12/2023

Thanks as ever to John Flannery for a superb piece of work

07/10/2023

21/09/2023

19/09/2023

📣We can finally reveal our big news! Together with our colleagues at Mayo Dark Skies, we have successfully secured a bid to host the 2025 Artificial Light at Night Conference (ALAN2025), an international and multi-disciplinary conference attracting academics, architects, astronomers, conservationists, dark sky advocates, ecologists, engineers, lighting experts, planners, policy makers, scientists, students and more.

✨The event will take place in Westport 28-30 October 2025, immediately preceding the Mayo Dark Sky Festival and encouraging delegates to stay on and enjoy the Mayo hospitality a little longer!

🔭We’re delighted to bring the event to Ireland and look forward to working with our partners and local groups on the conference. We have a lot of work ahead of us and a chance to get Light Right in the meantime. Our Strategic Plan 2023-2027 Launch Event on Oct 6th at Blackrock Castle Observatory will be a great opportunity to learn more about ALAN 2025 - email [email protected] for more info.

📰Full press release on ALAN2025 Conference here…

https://www.leavenotraceireland.org/dark-sky-ireland-alan-2025-press-release/

15/07/2023

https://www.darksky.org/artificial-light-at-night-state-of-the-science-2023-report/

IDA's State of the Science 2022 report is a high-level overview of the best of our scientific understanding of how artificial light at night affects the nighttime environment.

01/07/2023

Dark Sky Ireland were incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Mizen earlier this year as the stars have now lost one of their greatest friends on planet Earth.

The article below, in the most recent edition of the ILP Lighting Journal, is a beautifully written tribute to Bob.

Rest in Peace Bob, we know that the stars will shine just that little bit brighter now that you are among them 🌟

If you would like to read more on the life and passing of Bob, please follow this link to the tribute from the International Dark-Sky Association here👇
https://www.darksky.org/remembering-robert-edward-bob-mizon-mbe-fras-1946-2023/

27/04/2023

Looking up at the pristine night sky is sure to blow your mind. Here are 5 of the best places in the world to see the stars.

30/03/2023

After a fantastic 2nd edition of the Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival, we want to take this opportunity to say thank you. Firstly, thank you to all of you who came to the festival, shared our content, and generally supported us over the last few weeks.

To our speakers; Aoibheann Lambe of Rock Art Kerry, Micheal Sheehan of Caherdaniel Dark Sky, Steve Lynott of Kerry Dark Sky Tourism, John Flannery of Irish Astronomical Society, Marty and Keith of Astrophotography Club Ireland, Dee O’Shea, Sean Mac an tSíthigh, Paul Callanan of University College Cork, Caoimhín de Bhailis, and Eoin O’Neill of Heritage Iveragh / Oidhreacht Uíbh Ráthaigh. Thank you all.

To our venues; Blind Piper Pub, Dungeagan Community Hall, Tech Amergin Arts & Education Centre, Dromid Hostel/ Brú na Dromoda, and The Glen Community Centre. Additionally, we would like to thank the landowners who kindly granted us permission to cross their land for our outdoor events.

To our local businesses who got involved with the festival and hosted events; Skellig Six18 Distillery, Skellig Sauna, Kerry Aqua Terra and LH Marine & Sea Synergy

And finally, to the organisations who supported us, without whom this festival could not have happened; Údarás na Gaeltachta, OPW - Office of Public Works, Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UCC, Llŷn Iveragh Ecomuseums, Comhchoiste Ghaeltacht Uíbh Ráthaigh, Brí Uíbh Ráthaigh, Kerry County Council, Kerry County Council Community Fund, the Ireland Wales programme

25/03/2023

The Space Station is visiting us for the Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival!! Fingers crossed for clear sky when they are overhead!

24/03/2023

FRIDAY: STARGAZING IN BALLINSKELLIGS - CHANGE OF VENUE

Kerry Dark Sky Tourism will be moving their stargazing event indoors to Ballinskelligs Community Centre in Dún Géagán V23 DT28.

Join Steve Lynott and John Flannery, out of the wind, and into a dry Ballinskelligs Community Centre for an evening of talks with slides, a selection of different telescopes, March skymaps and advise on stargazing and for budding astroptographers.

If you have booked through Eventbrite already, you will have received an email with the details, if you haven't booked, there are still some places available: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/astronomy-and-stargazing-tickets-560580981807

Thanks to Steve, John and Ballinskelligs Community Centre for facilitating this move indoors so our stargazers will not be disappointed.

23/03/2023

John is a great supporter of the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve and an incredible source of knowledge and information on all matters astronomical! With fingers crossed for good weather we have have a backup location for Friday in the community Centre in Dungegan Ballinskelligs at 20:30 and in the community centre in St Finans Bay on Saturday night at 20:30 Inside or out we will have loads of information, fun and insights on the wonderful sights in the night Sky. Sky Ireland Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival

The Kerry Dark Sky Reserve sits on the Iveragh Peninsula and incorporates approximately 700 square km of territory.  It is one of only 3 Gold Tier Reserves in the world, and the only one in the Northern Hemisphere. Its location between the Kerry Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean provides some natur...

19/03/2023

18/03/2023

We are delighted that our Dark Sky Festival takes place during the inaugural Irish Astronomy Week, which kicks off this Monday, 20th - 26th March 2023 - "to inspire, encourage and help provide opportunities for people of all ages to connect with the universe, to promote an appreciation and understanding of the night sky".

Irish Astronomy Week 2023
www.irishastronomyweek.ie

We have multiple astronomy events across the weekend and peninsula, suitable for the complete beginner to advanced stargazers.

Join us to celebrate our night sky, heritage, culture, and folklore from near and far with some very special guests.

Here is a sample of some of our stargazing events, the full programme and booking links is available here: www.ecomuseumlive.eu/dark-sky-festival-2023

⭐️Friday 24h March
- Derrynane, Stargazing and Astro Folklore, 9pm - 10.30pm with Caherdaniel Dark Sky and Heritage Iveragh / Oidhreacht Uíbh Ráthaigh
- Ballinskelligs, What's in the Sky Tonight?, 8.30pm - 10pm with Kerry Dark Sky Tourism

⭐️Saturday 25th March
- Dromid, Realteolaíocht as Gaeilge, 3in - 4.30in, leCaoimhín de Bhailis
- St. Finian's Bay, Stargazing and Astronomy, 8.30pm – 10.30pm, with Kerry Dark Sky Tourism
- Dromid, Stargazing for All!, 7pm – 8pm with Caherdaniel Dark Sky and Heritage Iveragh / Oidhreacht Uíbh Ráthaigh

🌟🌟🪐🪐
,
International Dark-Sky Association, Dark Sky Ireland, Astronomy Magazine, Astronomy Ireland, Astronomy Club Ireland, Llyn Iveragh Ecomuseum, Leave No Trace Ireland Irish Federation of Astronomy Societies

02/03/2023

23/02/2023

Centred around the community and landscape of the darkest inhabited place in Ireland, 'Fields of Darkness' explores diverse physical and metaphorical perspectives on darkness, weaving together stories from archaeology, spirituality, astronomy, music, and blindness. An imaginative tapestry of human a...

02/02/2023

A star-filled sky is one of the most magical sights in the natural world. But light pollution is obscuring our view of the stars and disrupting wildlife.
Together, we can work towards rewilding our skies for the benefit of people and wildlife. The CPRE The countryside charity is organising a Star Count in the UK and across Ireland so we can submit useful Citizen Science data for Ireland.
Please help Dark Sky Ireland to create a baseline of information on our skies across the island of Ireland by taking part in - a cosmic census of our view of the stars.
Just look to the sky on a clear night between 17-24 February, and count the number of stars you can see within the four corners of the Orion constellation.
Find out how to take part 👇
https://www.cpre.org.uk/starcount

International Dark-Sky Association Kerry Dark Sky Tourism OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory Connemara Dark Skies Astronomy Ireland Astronomy Club Ireland Mayo Dark Skies Wild Nephin National Park - Páirc Náisiúnta Néifinne Fiáine Wicklow Mountains National Park The Heritage Council

09/01/2023

The first ever launch from the UK is happening tonight. Technically it's a Virgin aeroplane that will launch around 22.40 tonight from Cornwall and it has been modified to carry a rocket that will launch from the plane around 23.45 as it flies over the sea just south of Ireland. It's possible for anyone in the blue area to see it for up to one minute after it's launched so Kerry and Cork have the best chance. Look south around 23.45 and up to a few minutes after in case times change. There will be a live broadcast starting at 22.20 on YouTube for anyone who wants to watch. I'll post a link in the comments.

15/12/2022

08/12/2022

The Moon is not always popular with astronomers as it washes out the stars but sometimes!!!!!! .Great photo Moira Lynott