The stars are aligned for astronomers, astro-photographers, astro-physicists, stargazers and rocket makers to visit Newport, County Mayo over the Bank holiday weekend 28-30th October. The town is set to host the first ever Mayo Dark Sky Festival and promises to be a weekend of discovery and enlightenment for everyone.
Mayo is now internationally recognised as one of the best places in the world to view the wonders of the night, following a gold tier accreditation from the International Dark-sky Association earlier this year.
The Mayo Dark Sky Festival programme ‘Our Place in the Cosmos,’ features many highly regarded expert speakers in the fields of space, astronomy and science as well as nighttime observations in nearby Mayo Dark Sky Park. In addition to events for the serious astronomer, the organisers have designed a family friendly schedule to include a mobile planetarium, rocket-making workshops and evening stargazing sessions at Burrishoole Abbey.
Veteran journalist and broadcaster Leo Enright will officially open the festival on Friday evening, 28th October.
For more information see Mayo Dark Sky Festival.