Location: Wild NephinBallycroy National Park Visitor Centre, Ballycroy, Co Mayo. Letterkeen Loops & Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail) & the Ballycroy Visitor Centre will be closed on Saturday 31/10/2020. Nestled between the remote Nephin Mountain Range and the unspoiled Atlantic coastline, the Dark Sky Park extends across an area of 150km2. Signature viewing sites include the Claggan Mountain Boardwalk, Letterkeen Bothy and Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre, which have excellent interpretive and parking facilities. Due to Storm Ellen, please note that Wild Nephin National Park/Mayo Dark Sky Park, including all trails (i.e. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a United States-based non-profit organization incorporated in 1988 by founders David Crawford, a professional astronomer, and Tim Hunter, a physician/amateur astronomer. About IDA County Mayo, situated in western Ireland, is widely celebrated for its rugged and unspoiled landscape on the edge of Europe’s wild Atlantic coastline. Welcome. It’s full of great hiking trails and beautiful landscapes. The Gold Tier Mayo Dark Sky Park was officially launched last Friday in Ballycroy. 31 October 2020 - our fifth annual festival will be a virtual affair - a celebration of Mayo's dark skies, with online talks, workshops and fun family events. A great park to admire the sky and its brightest stars! Intuitive inquiry is employed to explore the following themes: human desire to see the night sky, commercialisation of this desire through … Email: Kerrydarkskytourism@yahoo.ie Phone +353 0872582835. In a serendipitous coincidence, today’s announcement came during a Mayo Dark Skies open day for business and tourism providers. Mayo Dark Sky Park. The award is the first International Dark Sky Park in Ireland and is a wonderful recognition for the region’s pristine skies, enhancing its existing protected landscapes and wilderness regions. The mission of the IDA is "to preserve and protect the night time environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting." Storm Aiden – Park Closed 31/10/2020 October 30, 2020. In May the International Dark-sky Association recognised Ballycroy/Wild Nephin National Park as an International Dark Sky Park a Gold Tier classification, the highest possible international award in recognition of the outstanding natural nightscapes. County Mayo, situated in western Ireland, is widely celebrated for its rugged and unspoiled landscape on the edge of Europe’s wild Atlantic coastline. Stargazing to the sound of the ocean in pristine dark skies is as good as it gets!! Viewing sites for visiting astronomers have been designated and graded by ease of access and facilities available. Contact; Dark Sky Park; Discover; Groups; Learn; Schools; Viewing Points; Visit; Visitor Centre; News; Whats On; Shuttle Bus ; Festival; CONTACT INFO. virtual! The Mayo Dark Sky Park A reserve of … CLOSED For storm updates The site has excellent parking and viewing facilities with the option to walk a 2km trail along a stunning coastal bay boardwalk route. E-mail: ballycroyvisitorcentre@chg.gov.ie, Visitor Centre Find all the transport options for your trip from Limerick to Mayo County right here. The Mayo International Dark Sky Park already has some exciting events planned for the coming months, including The Mayo Dark-Sky Festival to be held 1st – 3rd November 2019. Welcome to Mayo Dark Sky Park. County Mayo, situated in western Ireland, is widely celebrated for its rugged and unspoiled landscape on the edge of Europe’s wild Atlantic coastline. Letterkeen Bothy has been designated as a viewing site for astron-omers following the award given to it and Ballycroy National Park - ‘Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park’. The park is Ireland’s first International Dark Sky Park and showcases some of the darkest, most pristine skies in the world. The Mayo Dark Skies Community Group, in collaboration with the Dublin Institution of Technology, is pleased to launch a digital virtual experience of the Mayo Dark Sky Park. Mayo is now home to Ireland’s first International Dark Sky Park, showcasing some of the darkest, most pristine skies in the world. … This wonderful recognition has been awarded for the pristine dark skies, unspoiled nature and nocturnal … Mayo International Dark Sky Park, Ireland (2016) The Milky Way rises over the Letterkeen bothy in the Wild Nephin Wilderness. Copyright © 2019 Mayo Dark Sky Park. Hosted by . Visit Website. pin. Image: Courtesy Mayo Dark Skies Group . Mayo Dark Skies, Ballycroy, Mayo, Ireland. Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre has a variety of FREE activities and exhibitions suitable for groups. Mayo International Dark Sky Park. County Mayo. The Mayo Dark Sky Park Group has also launched a project mapping the naturally dark areas of Mayo that conversely shows the areas that are affected by artificial light at night. A Gold tier classification is an honour reserved for the most exceptional of dark skies and stunning nightscapes. Address. Welcome to Mayo Dark Sky Park. Terra Firma offers an array of tours across the Ballycroy National Park and the Nephin Begs. Mayo is now home to Ireland’s first International Dark Sky Park, showcasing some of the darkest, most pristine skies in the world. Contact. QUICK LINKS. See link in the footnote at the end of this article to visit map website where there is much more detail. The Mayo International Dark Sky Park already has some exciting events planned for the coming months, including The Mayo Dark-Sky Festival, slated to be held from October 28 to 30. Dark Sky Park Gold-Tier. Irish Rare Breeds … Beautiful Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park is one of the must sees in Mayo. National Park and Wild Nephin) that are included in the application for Mayo Dark Sky Park status. Here you can take the “Tóchar Daithi Bán” (a 2km looped walk) to the elevated plateau of Cleary’s hill for a panoramic view of the night. 2017 Mayo Dark Sky Festival The 2016 Mayo Dark Sky Festival was a wonderful event. The park protects … There is a lighting curfew in place at this site. Find out all about the world class speakers contributing to the Mayo Virtual Dark Sky Festival 31 October 2020. This is the second IDA designation in Ireland. Admission Free, Ginger & Wild Cafe County Mayo Republic of Ireland. Welcome to … clock. Cools, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry, Ireland . The park is also home to Ireland’s first international dark sky park so get ready to see some sparkling stars and even planets. Ballycroy Visitor Centre hosted a range of expert speakers, who spoke to those gathered … Mayo Dark Sky Park. The symposium will immediately follow the Mayo Dark Sky Festival. 150 km 2. Join Marnie as she chats with Dan O’Donoghue (magician and storyteller extraordinaire) and Georgia MacMillan (Dark Sky Ranger)...two of the guides behind Terra Firma - Hiking, Stargazing & Cultural Tours of Ireland Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park and Mayo Dark Sky Park expands over 110 square kilometers of mountainous Atlantic blanket bog and forest. … About the IDA Dark Sky Places Program Letterkeen Bothy has been designated as a viewing site for astron-omers following the award given to it and Ballycroy National Park - ‘Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park’. Its borders encompass both Ballycroy National Park and Wild Nephin. Both have been awarded a gold tier for the quality of their night skies, free from light pollution and are important assets of natural night sky heritage. From October 7th 2020 Mayo is now home to Ireland’s first International Dark Sky Park, showcasing some of the darkest, most pristine skies in the world. Indoor and outdoor seated areas, toilet facilities and extensive car parking. Hotels near Connemara National Park & Visitor Centre; Hotels near Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden; Hotels near Wild Atlantic Way; Hotels near Quay Street; Hotels near Sky Road; Hotels near Salthill Promenade; Hotels near Galway Cathedral; Hotels near The Great Western Greenway ; Hotels near Dun Aonghasa; Hotels near Eyre Square; Hotels near Atlantic Drive on Achill Island; Hotels near The Pirate … Dark Skies Explorer in the Mayo Dark Sky Park. Land Area. The group formed the “Friends of Mayo Dark-Skies” steering committee. Ireland’s Mayo Dark Sky Park. From October 7th 2020, National Parks & Wildlife Service Since the program began, 14 Communities, 33 Parks, 10 Reserves, two Sanctuaries and three Dark Sky Friendly Developments of Distinction have received International Dark Sky designations. Application Lightscape Management Plan Press Release Annual Reports. Schlagwort: Mayo Dark Sky Park Irland mit Milchstraße im Blick: Magie der Sterne in Mayo. We have created three signature Dark Sky viewing points at easily accessible locations around the dark sky park. If anyone is planning to venture to the Mayo Dark Sky Park this evening, and in particular the Ballycroy Visitor Centre viewing point, here is a compilation of images we put together of what you might see from Cleary’s Hill. Ireland is home to two internationally recognised dark sky places; Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve and Mayo International Dark Sky Park. Where the darkest skies reveal the brightest stars. Wild Nephin as Mayo International Dark-sky Park recognition with the International Dark-sky Association. The Mayo Dark Sky Park is Ireland’s first ever Dark Sky Reserve. It also has the country’s only International Dark-Sky Association Gold Tier standard classification, which it achieved by addressing the need of biodiversity, energy and social ambience … The International Dark-Sky Association granted Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Park status to Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park in 2016. Old Irish Goat Interpretive Centre and Craft Shop. It comprises of 11,000 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog and mountainous terrain, covering a vast uninhabited and unspoilt wilderness dominated by the Nephin Beg mountain range. Links. Ballycroy National Park and Wild Nephin Wilderness are jointly recognized as Mayo International Dark Sky Park. Mayo International Dark Sky Park, Ireland (2016) The Milky Way rises over the Letterkeen bothy in the Wild Nephin Wilderness. 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