About The Festival
International Dark Sky Place of the Year 2024
How we started
Mayo Dark Sky Festival was established in 2016, to celebrate all facets of Mayo’s natural dark skies. Organised by the Friends of Mayo Dark Skies following the gold tier accreditation of Mayo Dark Sky Park, it takes place in the communities around the Dark Sky Park – Newport, Mulranny and Ballycroy.
Our first festival focussed on astronomy but it has since expanded to cover all themes connected with dark skies including culture, wellbeing and biodiversity, as we learn more about the impacts of light pollution on all of these areas of our lives.
Sponsored and Supported By
The future of dark skies
We want to share our passion for the pristine night skies of Mayo with as many people as possible. Clear unpolluted skies are now, sadly, a rarity – the Milky Way is so obscured by the effects of modern lighting that it is no longer visible to over 50% of Irish people – and that figure is even higher for North America and mainland Europe. Visitors can explore and enjoy Mayo Dark Sky Park all year round, and November is a particularly rewarding time to do so. The skies are dark from 6pm, the weather can be mild, and there are some beautiful stars, constellations and planets to be seen, including Orion, Cassiopeia, double star Albireo and the beautiful Pleiades star cluster. On a clear night, it really is quite magical.
Festival Team
Our dedicated team, with lots and lots of help from the rest of the Friends of Mayo Dark Skies and Newport Astronomy Club!
Fiona Hopkins
Festival Director and founder member of Newport Astronomy Club
Georgia MacMillan
Mayo Dark Sky Park Development Officer & chair of the Friends of Mayo Dark Skies
Carol Loftus
Co-ordinator of Mulranny events at the Mayo Dark Sky Festival
Margaret Flaherty
Community Engagement Officer at Wild Atlantic Nature
Michael Chambers
Wild Nephin National Park Supervisor Guide and local historian.
Our Mission
Mayo Dark Sky Park at Wild Nephin National Park in Ireland was named the International Dark Sky Place of the Year for 2024 by DarkSky International. This prestigious award recognizes the park’s outstanding efforts in preserving dark skies and promoting education about light pollution. The park is known for its commitment to dark-sky conservation, engaging visitors with its outreach efforts, and fostering collaboration with local communities.
Awarded
The award highlights the park’s leadership in advocacy and education, particularly through initiatives like the Mayo Dark Sky Festival and its role in planning the 2025 ALAN conference. The park has also been recognized for its efforts to reduce light pollution and for its annual engagement with nearly 30,000 visitors. The Park was previously designated as a Gold-tier International Dark Sky Park in 2016, demonstrating its long-standing commitment to dark sky preservation. This latest award solidifies its position as a leader in the field and a valuable asset for both nature and the local community.
Why not join us?
Our festival continues to expand and grow, offering talks, walks, exhibitions, performances and family friendly events in a warm and welcoming environment. Mayo’s rugged Atlantic seaboard offers a dramatic backdrop to a relaxed and fun-filled festival.