Heritage Week Events for Dark Skies

Heritage Week
There's lots happening across the county for dark skies so here's a few highlights:

Perseid Meteor Watch

12th August - 10.30pm on Murrivaugh Beach, Mulranny, Mayo

Hosted by Mulranny Tourism and Newport Astronomy Club - enjoy this annual meteor watch and make sure you make a wish up on those 'shooting stars'! Booking not required but all subject to weather of course.

Night Walk

13th August - 9pm Wild Nephin National Park Guides will also be hosting a night walk from Letterkeen. Contact ballycroyvisitorcentre@npws.gov.ie for info.

Listening Out For Bats While Looking Up At The Stars

16th August, Moore Hall, Mayo 9pm

This Dark Sky Ireland event is now WAITLIST only.

Dr. Kate McAney, Dark Sky Ireland Committee Member and Vincent Wildlife Trust's Ireland Mammal Programme Manager will lead a walk along the woodland paths and the lake and explain how and why bats navigate and hunt at night.

More info on the Bat Walk here

Special Dark Sky Event - W Cinema

19th August 12noon

• the premiere of a SHORT VIDEO, commissioned by the Friends of Mayo Dark Skies and kindly funded by the Heritage Council of Ireland, celebrating Mayo's dark skies and its annual Dark Sky Festival (film made by Visual Media Ireland)
• a TALK by renowned historian and astronomer BRIAN MacGABHANN exploring the ultimate question 'are we alone in the universe?'
• The launch of the programme for 2023 MAYO DARK SKY FESTIVAL 3-5 NOVEMBER

Free event but booking required BOOK HERE

Newport Astronomy Club Talk

24th August 8pm, Hotel Newport

Dave Lillis from Limerick Astronomy Society. Dave will be talking about Solar Eclipses, in particular the 2006 IFAS trip and some images taken, as well as eclipses coming up and travel opportunities to experience them.

The talk will take place on Thursday 24th August, as usual the venue will be Hotel Newport at 8pm and is FREE for members of Newport Astronomy Club and €5 to non-members.

Other Dates for your Diary:

We will also be running an AUTUMN PROGRAMME of events. Further details to be released later in the year but an overview of different events is listed below.

Women in Dark Skies (online web series).

This will resume again in Autumn with our next international speaker to be announced shortly. Meantime, Check out our channel for recordings of past speakers.

Culture Night – September 22nd

Event at Ballycroy Visitor Centre – details to be confirmed soon!

"Carpe Noctem" - Our next Dark Sky Ambassador Training day is

September 28th, Mulranny Park Hotel

This is a full day aimed at community volunteers across Mayo, and those with an interest in dark skies and the environment. This is a brand new course with expert speakers joining us in Mayo for this event, which will run from approximately 10am to 4.30pm. Attendance will include lunch and will be by application (details to follow!). This event is made possible thanks to the support of the Heritage Council.

Space Week October 4th-10th

Stargazing and dark sky themed events

Mayo Dark Sky Festival November 3th-5th

See www.mayodarkskyfestival.ie

We look forward to seeing you soon.
Best wishes

Georgia MacMillan
Mayo Dark Sky Park Development Officer
IRC Employment Based PhD Scholar in partnership with NPWS and University of Galway

#HalftheParkisAfterDark www.MayoDarkSkyPark.ie