Stories of the Stars
Mythology and Folklore can help you map the sky and learn our constellations above. Did you know that just off the Wild Atlantic Way in Newport county Mayo, lies 4,000 star accommodation?! One of our favourite ways to get off the beaten track is to head for an...
More Ramblings of a Restricted Hiker!
Hello again, the weather has continued to be kind, so we’ve spent some time in the garden, there is an abundance of dandelion, attracting scores of butterfly and bees. We have a few different types of grasses, sedges and rushes in the garden, that we have left to...
Walking On Terra Firma! – The Ramblings of a Restricted Hiker
Beauty within 2km of home We are really lucky to live in the beautiful and diverse country of Ireland and luckier still to live in Mayo, the third largest county of the thirty-two on the island of Ireland. Mayo also has the second lowest population density in the...
Rantin’ & Raven
The Raven (Corvus Corax) or Fiach Dubh in Irish, has an intellect to rival chimpanzees and dolphins, making it one of the most intelligent creatures on the planet. This creature is part of the Corvidae family of birds, consisting of over 120 species globally, with...
Stargazer’s Checklist
Situated at the edge of Europe, Ireland really is the last haven of pristine dark skies and the beauty of stargazing is that you don’t need much, if any, equipment. It can take your eyes up to 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness so be patient! Here’s a check...
Seeing Stars
For my part, I know nothing with any certainty but the sight of stars makes me dream… Vincent Van Gogh It's surprising how few people have ever seen a truly dark sky. Light pollution has stolen the view of the Milky Way from the homes of over 60% of Europeans and 80%...
Where to find Ireland’s Dark Skies?
Since 2001, naturally dark places have been under the protection of the International Dark-sky Association. Based in Tucson, Arizona, this non-profit organisation was established to protect the night sky for present and future generations to enjoy. Thus over 150...
Back Garden Stargazing
Here's a few helpful tips to finding your way around the night sky: The North Star (‘Polaris’) is positioned directly above the North Pole. Sailors have used it to navigate for centuries. The Plough looks a bit like a saucepan. If you draw an imaginary line from the...
Here comes the Night
As summer draws to an end and the darker evenings start to draw in, it is sometimeseasy to forget that wildlife is still all around us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whenwe close our doors and curtains, and are busy on our smart phones or tablets it issometimes hard...
Above us only Sky
Throughout civilisation, the stars have inspired artists, scientists, explorers, writers and musicians the world over. Those of us who walk the hills at night already appreciate the beauty of a naturally starry sky. How many times has your night navigation session...