"Where the stars meet the sea" - the slogan of the Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival thanks to the festival's wonderful marketing director (and musician) Leonie.

This stunning image by Michael Sheehan captures the Milky Way in the skies above Derrynane Beach, while the blueish glow from the water is bioluminescent plankton which sparkles where the waves break.
Located along the Skellig Coast, this is our favourite place to bring you on our tours - and it is in the heart of the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, one of only three Gold-Tier Dark Sky Reserves in the world and the only one in the northern hemisphere.

We have been thinking about what makes the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve so special - and just doing that makes us appreciate it even more. Here are some of our thoughts: our skies are extra dark as we are on a peninsula and never far from the sea - the sea extends all the way to America! Having such a vast area with no structures, settlements or light pollution  extending from our shores lets the skies be as dark as can be. Our landscapes are rugged and wild - and full of ancient monuments in their natural setting.  What a way to contemplate space and time. We have tetrapod prints on Valentia Island that are 385 million years old - visit them and gaze up at the Pleiades, the iconic star cluster which wasn't even born yet when the prints were made.  With so many beaches, you can enjoy the dark skies while walking with your dog. A starry sky on Iveragh is an experience to carry with you and your loved ones for ever.  The peninsula has a great selection of dark sky places, just a few of which (those which have parking) are highlighted in this map.