Kerry is no stranger to stars—and we’re not just talking about Michael Fassbender: One of the world’s best places to see heavenly bodies is just over an hour’s drive from Killarney. Stay at Killarney’s Holiday Village for the perfect Kerry Dark Sky Reserve accommodation.
What is the Kerry Dark Sky Reserve?
The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve is a 700sq km area in the southwest of the county that has been awarded gold-tier designation by the International Dark-Sky Association in Arizona for the superb quality of its night sky. Of the many certified dark-sky parks in the world, only six have secured the higher distinction of international dark-sky reserves. In fact, there are only two other gold-tier reserves in the world (the Aoraki Mackenzie in New Zealand and the NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia).
Why Do You Need to Experience It?
Visit the Kerry Dark Sky Reserve and experience the complete range of visible sky phenomena, including the Milky Way, zodiacal light, and even meteors. With no glare from artificial light and almost no pollution, this is a place of astounding nocturnal beauty, and it is also unique among dark-sky reserves for having small towns and villages within it. These include Kells, Foilmore, Caherciveen, Portmagee, Valentia Island, Dromid, the Glen, Ballinskelligs, Waterville and Caherdaniel
The reserve has just received planning permission for an observatory on Geokaun Mountain, Valentia Island. The location over Fogher Cliffs has a stunning 360-degree view of the night sky over the Atlantic and inland.
What Do You Need to Know?
Kells is the first town in the reserve if coming from the direction of Killarney’s Holiday Village. Beautiful by day, Kells offers exceptional views across Dingle Bay by day, but by night it is breathtaking with a dark-sky quality reading of up to 21.7 on the SQML reader (the darkest reading is 22). Kells is 50km from Killarney.
What Are You Waiting For?
Book your stay at Killarney’s Holiday Village and look forward to nights to remember.
Have you experienced the Kerry Dark Sky Reserve?
We’d love to hear from you!
