Mayo Dark Sky Festival
Venue : Newport, Mulranny and Ballycroy
The Mayo Dark Sky Festival is back with a bang! In 2021, covid restrictions meant that the festival could not go ahead as planned, so we are really looking forward to welcoming people back to Newport, Mulranny and Ballycroy from 4 - 6 November, for a feast of events celebrating Mayo's dark unpolluted skies.
This year we will have talks by Brother Guy Consolmagno, head of the Vatican Observatory, Dr Sera Markoff of the University of Amsterdam, whose team was responsible for capturing the iconic first image of a black hole back in 2019, and renowned Irish botanist and broadcaster Dr Éanna ní Lamhna. Professor Mark McCaughrean of the ESA will return to the festival with an update on the James Webb Space Telescope.
Of course dark skies are not just about astronomy and space, as always we welcome multiple themes of nature, culture and the arts with Professor Kevin Gaston of Exeter University, an expert on the ecological impacts of light pollution, Rae Goddard who brings her amazing artistry as a live event illustrator, Dr Karen Weekes - first Irish woman to row solo across the Atlantic, Chasseurs de Nuits exhibition of Astro Photos "Nightscapades" and much more.
People can look forward to world class speakers in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. But it is not just about science and biodiversity - the festival offers curated performances and exhibitions that evoke the natural beauty of west Mayo. Cellist Patrick Dexter will perform on the opening night in Ballycroy on Friday 4th of November, and Ballycroy Visitor Centre will also play host to a stunning exhibition of night time photography.
We really enjoyed putting together a virtual festival in 2020, and close to 1400 people from 25 countries across the globe attended the online events, but there really is nothing like meeting people face to face, old friends and new, and sharing with them our passion for the night sky.
Check out the festival website www.mayodarkskyfestival.ie for all the latest updates.
Tickets will go on sale at the end of September when the full programme will be launched
Contact : www.mayodarkskyfestival.ie
