Where the stars cast shadows
HERE'S some food for thought. The Milky Way is so obscured by the effects of modern lighting that it is no longer visible to 45% of Irish people.
If you are still planning your October bank holiday weekend, why not re-acquaint yourself with this natural wonder and visit a dark sky park in the west of Ireland?
The Mayo Dark Sky Festival runs from Friday to Sunday (October 27 to 29), celebrating the pristine natural skies of Mayo International Dark Sky Park. The 15,000-hectare park achieved Gold Tier status from the International Dark Sky Association in 2016. It is the only dark sky park in Ireland, and is growing in popularity for travellers looking for something a little different for a short break.
“The dark sky park is an amenity that visitors can visit and enjoy all year round, but October is a particularly rewarding time to do so. The skies are dark from 9 p.m., the weather can be mild, and there are some beautiful constellations and planets to be seen, including Cassiopeia, the summer triangle and Uranus. It really is quite magical,” said festival director Fiona Hopkins, who added: “One of our recent visitors was overheard exclaiming, 'The stars are casting shadows!’”
Each evening throughout the festival, the local astronomy club will host stargazing sessions at the 15th century Burrishoole Abbey. Happily, this year’s festival also coincides with International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday (October 28). Observers will have the best of both worlds – a little moon gazing to start with, but the moon will set around midnight, revealing the true wonders of the October night sky.
While stargazing will keep you enthralled each evening, there is plenty to do during the day, with events taking place in Newport, Mulranny and Ballycroy - the small towns bordering the Mayo International Dark Sky Park.
“We have a packed programme of events, with something for everyone,” said Fiona. “For keen amateur astronomers and fans of physics we have top academics from Ireland, the UK and CERN Switzerland, giving talks on topics like astrophotography, Mars space missions and the Higgs Boson particle, while Duncan Stewart and other experts on the environment will talk about the impact of light pollution on the natural world around us.
“But it’s not all about serious science. Families will enjoy activities like model rocket building, space workshops, planetarium shows and crazy art projects. There really is no other festival like it in the country.”
Mayo’s rugged Atlantic seaboard offers a dramatic backdrop to a relaxed and fun-filled festival. A full programme of events and everything needed to plan your trip are on the festival website at www.mayodarkskyfestival.ie.