WEATHER UPDATE for Mayo Dark Sky Festival ... DARK SKY WALK and STARGAZING at BALLYCROY VISITOR CENTRE tomorrow night FRIDAY is CANCELLED due to high winds and rain forecast. The terrain and landscape around the Visitor Centre is just not suitable for navigating in the dark in high winds, and, a s always, your safety is our number one priority! As the terrain at Burrishoole Abbey is quite different, we are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast and will make a decisi

Thanks to the volunteers who came along to Newport today to check out the lanterns for our Lantern Walk next Sunday. The giant lanterns were made by sculptor Tom Meskell and the smaller handheld ones were created by the local community at workshops over the past few months. It 's all coming together nicely - jobs have been assigned and everyone is getting so excited, and ready to help everyone have the best experience. Let's all keep our fingers crossed for some good weather

Stephen Kershaw has been part of our festival since 2016 - ie from the very beginning. Stephen is the founder and proprietor of KTec Telescopes, Ireland’s go-to specialist for astronomical optics, mounts, and imaging accessories. With decades of hands-on observing and astrophotography experience, Stephen combines deep technical knowledge with a passion for sharing the night sky. Under his guidance, KTec has become a trusted resource for both beginners and seasoned astronom

Our very good friends Cillian and Naomi at Mescan Brewery have been busy these last few weeks brewing a brand new batch of their 'Spéartha Dorcha' Oyster Stout . It will be launched at the Opening Night of the 2025 ALAN (Artificial Light At Night) Conference in Westport on 28 October, so make sure to check it out over the Dark Sky Festival Weekend - it's sure to be a big hit, just like last year's first batch!

Congratulations to all the staff at Ballycroy Visitor Centre , and of course to JP and Nicola of Ginger and Wild Café , who together won...