We love the great outdoors in Ireland – even after dark. And there’s a good reason why – the island is one of the best places in the world to go stargazing.
So where to start? Well, an excellent spot both day and night is
County Kerry on the
Wild Atlantic Way. By day, you’ll get a stunning landscape of undulating hills and mountains, wild coastline and shimmering lakes. By night, you’ll get a light show courtesy of nature at the
Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve; one of only 11 on the planet!
Sky tours are arranged based on the time of year and weather, but if you do get lucky then you’ll be able to stare up at the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxy as you listen to the sound of the ocean. It’s an unforgettable experience.
As you travel up the Wild Atlantic Way you’ll find the
Mayo Dark Sky Park where you can marvel at over 4,500 stars, the Milky Way, planets and even meteor showers that engulf the night’s sky. It’s
County Mayo’s low population density and the park’s preservation efforts that keep the skies above naturally dark, which allows for extraordinary stargazing now and for years to come. Keep going north along the Wild Atlantic Way and you’ll get to
Malin Head in
County Donegal, where the Northern Lights have been known to make an appearance. Dunree, Mamore Gap and Ballyliffin are good locations to spot this amazing light show, but like everything else, it does all depend on conditions.
The
OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory in
Davagh Forest,
Northern Ireland is set within the beautiful
Sperrin Mountains and boasts daily guided tours of the
OM Exhibition, so you can enjoy the stars by day and night! If you’re here after dark, you can potentially spot deep-sky objects, star clusters, galaxies and the Milky Way!
Of course, while accredited Dark Sky Parks are the best places to stargaze, they aren’t the only ones – and when it comes to searching for stars, the more remote the location, the better. Parts of
County Wicklow are ideal after-dark and Galactic Ireland know the best places to go, so check them out for a very unique experience in the “garden of Ireland”.
By day, the
Hook Peninsula in
County Wexford is the perfect coastal spot with a quiet beach at every corner but by night, the real charm comes from what lies above. The beautiful coastline landscape paired with a night sky full of life is a match made in heaven; what better backdrop for your evening stroll?
Don’t fancy having to brave any cold weather to witness these starry nights? Hide yourself away in one of
Finn Lough’s Forest Bubble Domes in
County Fermanagh for a once in a lifetime romantic experience. These transparent domes allow you to gaze up at the sky and immerse yourself into the surrounding nature all from the comfort of a warm bed!
Are there any other spots that our Community members recommend for astronomy enthusiasts?
