Saturday, August 2, 2025

Five Key Threats to Ireland’s Remaining Dark Skies

Posted in
on
In her analysis, Georgia MacMillan from the University of Galway highlights the increasing rarity of experiencing a naturally dark night sky due to rising light pollution in Ireland. Despite remarkable displays of the Aurora Borealis in 2024, many Irish residents were unable to fully appreciate them because artificial lighting often obscures celestial phenomena. As urban dwellers seek out remote areas for dark sky tourism, the implications of light pollution extend beyond visual enjoyment, affecting well-being, wildlife, and energy consumption. MacMillan identifies five major threats to Ireland’s dark skies, including the widespread use of energy-efficient LED lighting, the rise of mega-constellations of satellites, and the impact of wind turbine lighting. Urgent action is needed to address these challenges and preserve the beauty of our night skies for future generations.

Read More