Kerry Dark Sky Reserve is one of only three ‘Gold Tier’ Dark Sky reserves in the world. Valentia Island is lucky to be located in the middle of the reserve.
Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve is 700 square km of territory. It’s nestled between the Kerry Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean which provide some natural protection against light pollution.
The night sky has captivated the people of Ireland for millennia. Nearly 6,000 years ago, the Neolithic inhabitants of our peninsula in Kerry built stone monuments incorporating alignments to track cycles of the Sun, Moon, and stars. According to some experts, ancient Ogham-language inscriptions found in the region may depict celestial observations.
Watch the beautiful time lapse video of the Kerry Dark Sky Reserve below and see for yourself how crystal clear the skies are.