Dark Skies
The Iveragh Peninsula is home to the only ‘gold tier’ Dark Sky Reserve in Europe.
Looking skyward on a clear night in the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve will leave you awestruck. Views of the moon, the stars, constellations and planets from Iveragh’s beaches, hills or headlands are a spectacle not to be missed.
About the ‘Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve’
The ‘Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve’ became Ireland’s first Dark Sky Reserve in 2013, a great achievement for the community group who led the initiative. The following year, it became the first ‘gold-tier’ Dark Sky Reserve in the northern hemisphere. On Iveragh, it covers an area of 700km2 and is situated between Ireland’s largest mountain range to the east and the vast Atlantic Ocean to the west.
Whether you are interested in astronomy, nocturnal wildlife, folklore, or just sitting under the stars and marvelling at the size of the universe, visiting Iveragh when the nights are long is a special experience.
The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve covers the following regions of the Iveragh Peninsula: Kells, Cahersiveen, Valentia Island, Portmagee, the Glen, Ballinskelligs, Waterville, Dromid and Caherdaniel.
Learn more about Iveragh’s Dark Sky Reserve.
Stargazing Guide
Poinntí tosaigh don Réaltóireach
Bats of Iveragh Video
Hear bat sounds and find out where to look for bats on Iveragh.
Other videos from the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve:
How to photograph the moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULhU3HI_pjE
How to photograph the night sky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPZlK5VP1yQ
A selection of stargazing guides in the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bewLIRgS7Ps&list=PL-cIOTpa3ZoEoshbs9Buw5FGDRADcYvjF&index=2