Stars align as 'significant event' comes to Mayo
Pictured at the launch were, back row, from left: Amy Flanagan, Laura Dixon, Mayo County Council Climate Officer; Carol Loftus, Mulranny Tourism; Margaret Flaherty, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS); John Murray, Crossing the Line Productions; and Lisa Hallinan. Front row: Molly O'Grady, NPWS; Professor Brian Espey, Chairperson, Dark Sky Ireland; Fiona Hopkins, Mayo Dark Skies; Georgia MacMillian, NPWS; Eoin Warner, presenter 'Ireland's Wild Islands'; Clare Masterson and Peter Nugent, Mayo Dark Skies volunteer. Picture: Conor McKeown
The stars are aligning in Mayo this October as Mayo County Council will be partnering with Dark Sky Ireland (DSI) to present the ninth International Artificial Light at Night Conference (ALAN), which takes place in the Westport Woods Hotel from Tuesday, October 28th to Friday, October 31st.
This immediately precedes the always popular Mayo Dark Sky Festival, which has a stellar programme this year featuring music performance, night-time walks, dark sky talks and a host of other events.
The joint programme launch for both ALAN 2025 and Mayo Dark Sky Festival 2025 took place in the W Cinema last month as part of Irish Heritage Week and featured a screening of , by award-winning Westport-based Crossing The Line Productions followed by a short talk and Q&A with Eoin Warner, renowned wilderness guide and wildlife documentary presenter.
The event highlighted the wonderful natural heritage along Ireland’s west coast, with the region’s beautiful dark skies adding to it by supporting the biodiversity that relies on such natural nightscapes.
Dark Sky Ireland chairperson Professor Brian Espey welcomed the partnership with Mayo County Council.
"The knowledge shared by the world's foremost experts will ensure that Mayo’s Dark Sky Heritage continues to be protected into the future while providing positive benefits for its communities.”
Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly, added: “This is a significant event to have come to Mayo both from a climate change and a tourism perspective. The forthcoming Mayo Lighting Plan, which is currently being developed, is the first of its kind in the country and highlights our commitment to Mayo becoming a Dark Sky Reserve."
Fiona Hopkins, Director of Mayo Dark Sky Festival added: “Mayo Dark Sky Festival has an excellent programme again this year, which is happening directly after ALAN 2025. This is an amazing opportunity to further expand the festival’s international audience. As the festival covers diverse themes connected with dark skies including culture, wellbeing and biodiversity annually, this year ALAN delegates can also enjoy the varied programme alongside dark sky enthusiasts who are integral to the ongoing success of the event.”
The ALAN conference will see researchers and practitioners involved in the various aspects of artificial light at night travel from across the globe to Mayo to attend the event and visit the Gold-tier Mayo International Dark Sky Park, which received the prestigious Dark Sky Place of the Year Award 2024 by DarkSky International.
Further details on ALAN 2025 are available at www.darksky.ie and www.artificiallightatnight.org as they are confirmed.
