Stargazing in Mayo: ‘The West of Ireland has some of Europe’s last remaining natural dark skies’

Dark skies and untouched mountains are rare resources, and Mayo locals are working to keep them that way

Mayo Dark Sky Park. Photo: Josh Matthews / Fáilte Ireland

Azmia Riaz

This month, a friend and I escaped the bright lights of Dublin and found ourselves in the absolute darkness of Co Mayo’s Dark Sky Park.

It was just past 7pm and we had driven past the last streetlight on the road as we made our way towards the Wild Nephin National Park in Letterkeen.