The Festival Opening Event takes place at 7pm on Friday 31 October 2025 in Ballycroy Visitor Centre. This event will include the formal festival opening, followed by a special musical performance by internationally renowned traditional musician Emer Mayock.
We will conclude the evening with some refreshments, followed by stargazing and a guided dark sky walk (weather permitting). Due to limited capacity at the venue, entry will be by pre-booked ticket only, price €5

Schedule:
19:00 - welcome and official opening of festival
19:15 - musical performance by Emer Mayock
20:00 - refreshments in Ginger & Wild Cafe
20:30 - dark sky walk and stargazing (weather permitting!)

WEATHER PERMITTING (!), join members of Newport Astronomy Club for some stargazing at one of Mayo's premier stargazing sites.

Come along for a laser-pointer tour of the early November sky. The sign-post stars in the Summer Triangle and the Big Dipper will be used to show you how to easily navigate around the night sky. At the same
time, you can view the beautiful double star Albireo, and the planet Saturn and its rings, through a 9.25" SCT telescope. Suitable for all ages and levels of expertise.

Stargazing sessions will take place from 8pm to 9pm on both Friday 31 October AND Saturday, 1 November.

Free event, no booking required

Stunning night-time photographs by Josh Matthews and Aisling McGuire will be on display in Ballycroy Visitor Centre throughout the festival weekend. Entry is free and no booking is required. Josh and Aisling will also be giving an astrophotography workshop at 12 noon on Saturday 5 November - places are strictly limited and must be booked in advance

Understanding of the occurrence and environmental impacts of artificial light at night is growing very rapidly. This talk will highlight how artificial light has become an increasingly pervasive impact on the natural world, how it needs to be considered in those terms rather than as simply having localised effects on some particular kinds of plants or animals, and how we need to respond accordingly.

DUE TO ILLNESS, THIS EVENT CANCELLED, NEW EVENT ADDED

In this practical workshop on basic astrophotography, participants will be introduced to the essential techniques and equipment needed to capture stunning images of the night sky. Drawing on his extensive hands-on experience and passion for astronomy, Stephen will guide attendees through the fundamentals of setting up a telescope and camera, choosing the right lenses and mounts, and mastering simple exposure settings for photographing the Moon, planets, and constellations. He will demonstrate a range of equipment and share practical tips to help beginners avoid common pitfalls and achieve great results, even with modest gear.

This session is ideal for anyone keen to take their first steps into astrophotography and learn how to make the most of their existing camera or telescope setup. For those with a bit more experience and knowledge, Stephen will be on hand to answer any of your questions.

While visiting Ballycroy Visitor Centre, make sure to check out our specially curated Mayo Aurora Gallery of recent photographs from some impressive Aurora sightings in 2024!

The exhibition will be open all day during visitor centre opening hours

STEPHEN KERSHAW TALK CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS, MANY THANKS TO CAITRIONA MOSK WHO WILL DELIVER HER POPULER TALK ON ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY USING A SMARTPHONE...

Join us for a talk on the wonders of the night sky and the art of astrophotography. We will start by exploring the night sky and landscape, including the Moon, planets, deep-sky objects, and the breathtaking aurora borealis. Along the way, we’ll look at different styles of astrophotography, from wide-field Milky Way panoramas to detailed close-ups of nebulae, and you’ll get an overview of the equipment that makes it possible - cameras, lenses, tripods, and other accessories that help capture the cosmos in all its beauty.

The talk will then focus on astrophotography with smartphones, demonstrating what can be realistically captured without expensive equipment. We’ll cover which objects are possible to photograph with a phone, including the night landscape, the Moon, bright planets, aurora, and even some deep-sky objects under dark skies. Simple techniques, useful apps, and basic accessories that enhance results will also be discussed, demonstrating how anyone can start capturing impressive night sky images with just a smartphone.
This lecture is perfect for anyone interested in astronomy, photography, or simply the beauty of the cosmos, offering inspiration, insight, and a closer look at the tools and techniques that bring the universe into view.

Following on from themes presented at last year’s festival, sound artist Anne Marie Deacy invites you to sit beneath the stars and feel the resonance of Mayo Dark Sky Park at Wild Nephin National Park, as the vibrations of nature and time permeate the room, transmitted through sculptural forms.
An energy exchange between listener, nature & place, from spring dawns, to winter dusks, the obvious and hidden, we explore sonic snapshots of the seasonal spectrum, from one of the most unique environments in the world.
This installation is full of sonic possibilities, signs and signals. Made over a period of time in Wild Nephin National Park, it is a chance to time-hop, pause and contemplate as we listen in, not only to natural phenomena, but asks, can we also through these sounds feel the atmospheric changes, as seasons flow and day follows night. Can you hear a warm summer breeze? Or the dark chill of a winter dawn? From tunings from afar, to recordings of moss to lightning, bird song to trees, this art work explores through resonance, our own collective sensory connection to nature, the past, land, seasons, change and the cosmos.

Presented with the support of and with gratitude to Wilderland, Park Rangers at NPWS, Ballycroy Visitor Centre, Mayo Dark Sky Festival Team, Creative Ireland, Mayo County Arts Services, North Mayo Heritage Centre & artist Elaine Harrington. For more information, visit https://wilderland.ie

This soundscape will be premiered over the festival weekend with a sound sculpture installation in the glass viewing room on the rooftop at Ballycroy Visitor Centre. Anne Marie will be on-site for the festival weekend to guide people to it in small groups and answer any questions you may have.
Times: 10am-1pm & 2-5pm each day (31 Oct - 2 Nov) with a special evening viewing from 7.30-9pm on Friday 31 Oct for the festival launch event.

This practical workshop will aim to convey how light pollution is caused by poor illumination. It will explore the important qualities of light along with key design considerations which lead to successful dark sky applications.

STS-41-D was the 12th flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the first mission of Space Shuttle Discovery. It was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on August 30, 1984, and landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on September 5, 1984. Three commercial communications satellites were deployed into orbit during the six-day mission, and a number of scientific experiments were conducted, including a prototype extendable solar array that would eventually form the basis of the main solar arrays on the International Space Station (ISS).

The mission was delayed by more than two months from its original planned launch date, having experienced the Space Shuttle program's first launch abort at T-6 seconds on June 26, 1984

Derek's talk will take a look back at Nasa's space shuttle programme, which lasted 30 years, launched hundreds of astronauts into space, and built the International Space Station - but at what cost?

Author Anna Levin brings her new book 'Dark Skies' to Ireland for a talk and writing workshop on sharing our dark sky stories. 'Dark Skies' explores the importance of the night sky and the stars in an over-lit world. Anna invites you to share your own experiences of dark skies through gentle and accessible writing exercises. All materials will be provided but feel free to bring a notepad and favourite pen!

Throughout the festival weekend, Stephen from K-TEC TELESCOPES will be on hand in Hotel Newport to answer any of your questions about telescopes and accessories, at price points to suit all budgets. He is also happy to give advice on the right telescope for your needs.

There is not a lot that Stephen doesn't know about amateur astronomy & photography, so why not drop in and say hello?

Advances in our ability to manipulate the fundamentals of the biology of life gives us the potential to construct whole new lifeforms which can be tailored to survive or even thrive in extreme environments. At the same time, steps towards propulsion systems which can, at least in principle, accelerate small payloads to significant fractions of the speed of light, offer the possibility of accessing thousands of worlds within a human lifetime. For the first time in the history of our species the conversation is on the verge of moving from "could we" to "should we".

The Irish language has beautifully descriptive words for all aspects of the sky. People have always read the sky for predicting the future, especially the weather. Folklore collected in Mayo illustrates this. Who hasn't wished upon a falling star?

Eoin will bring us on a journey of wonder through some of the natural worlds that he has experienced while making Irish wildlife documentaries. From mid-winter nights on uninhabited offshore islands to free diving in the underwater world off our coasts.

As one of the greatest science and astronomy communicators, Carl Sagan left us a rich legacy of quotes. From Pale Blue Dots to Spirituality, his quotes and insights still have resonance today - perhaps even more resonance than when they were crafted. While we strive, and sometimes struggle, to understand our Universe, Sagan's quotes give us helpful signposts as we debate the evidence.

The Pale Blue Dot, our portable planetarium, will be making an appearance once again at our Dark Sky Festival! Shows will run on Saturday and Sunday (11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 15:00 and 15:30 each day), and will give you and your family the chance to discover the wonders of the night sky.

​Each show lasts 20 minutes and is FREE. With a limited capacity of 25 people per session, we suggest getting there early. If you do miss a show or it is full, you can always come back for the next one!

We are delighted to confirm that the Pale Blue Dot Dome is now wheelchair accessible

There is plenty of free parking at Newport National School.

Rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in 80 days, meant 80 variable night skies and night rowing conditions. It is these memorable night skies that will be the main focus of this presentation

Experience how a piece of silk and 5 wooden balls come to life. The WORKSHOP lasts approx one hour and costs 10 euros per child. Places are strictly limited to 10 children, and all children must be accompanied by an adult (but don't worry, accompanying adults go free!)
Afterwards children can dance their own puppet on the stage at the PUPPET SHOW, along with the Miracle Puppets cast of characters, including Hans, Ann Caithlin, Little Hans, Hugo and Reinhard.

WORKSHOP places are strictly limited, PUPPET SHOW open to all and free

Michael will be your expert companion on the guided walks around Ballycroy Visitor Centre in Wild Nephin National Park on Saturday and Sunday
Meet at the Visitor Centre on Saturday 1st November or Sunday 2nd November - TIME TBC

We'll be talking through the basics of landscape astrophotography. We'll cover what's good to photograph in Ireland, when to photograph it (including forecasting and planning) and basic setup. We'll give practical examples from our own experiences and talk a little bit about camera settings at the end. We'll leave time after the presentation so that if you like, you can bring your own camera and we'll look through the right astrophotography settings together.

A revolution in the way people access and use outer space is underway. It involves a transition from a realm dominated by government actors to one of private commercial activities. This is rapidly remaking the orbital space near the Earth. Already it has begun to transform the appearance of the night sky in ways never seen before.
In this presentation I will review the history of space exploration and development up to the dawn of the satellite 'megaconstellation' era in 2019; recount the changes of the last six years; and explain the effects on various users of the night sky from professional astronomers to casual stargazers. I will describe ongoing efforts to influence both spacecraft engineering decisions and the international policy framework with the goal of reducing the impact of satellites on astronomy and the global nighttime environment. Lastly, I will look ahead toward emerging concerns in the landscape of space issues in the second half of the 2020s.

An Out of this World experience through the world of Lego! This fun workshop is aimed at children from the age of 6 - 12. It will take place in the workshop of the Mulranny Arts Centre, and last one hour.

This workshop is suitable for children age 5 plus (Lego is provided), so children can get to step out of this world and experience the dark skies through Lego.

You can build your own astronaut - or why not fly to the moon on your rocket ship (you can check out some of our Lego displays) or just simply show us your idea of what you can see in our dark skies so maybe it’s through your own lego-made telescope showing us the biggest star or planet in the sky or a rocket ship on wheels with an alien on board. Let your imagination take you beyond this world into our skies... so let’s get building!

The Birth of a New Science: Gravitational-Wave Astronomy.

In 2016, hill walker Michael Chambers discovered a boulder chamber on Bengorm Mountain. Human bones were visible on the cave floor, which prompted Michael to contact the relevant authorities. This led to an archaeological excavation of the site, which revealed that the cave had been used during the Neolithic, about 5,500 years ago, for mortuary rituals. Over several centuries families brought the corpses of their dead up the mountain and placed them in the cave for a period of time. Marion's talk will explore the fascinating evidence for the death rituals that took place in this dark mountain space in prehistory.