Want to catch a glimpse of the famous Aurora Borealis? Well, here are the top five best places to see the Northern Lights in Ireland.
Have you always wanted to feast your eyes on the magnificent wonder that is the Northern Lights? If so, we’re giving you the lowdown of best places to see the Northern Lights in Ireland.
You don’t need to be disheartened thinking you need to head to far-flung destinations like Iceland, Finland, Greenland or even Canada to watch them.
Lucky for us here in Ireland, we have none of the best seats in the house, especially if the weather and atmospheric conditions are on our side.
If you live at the north end of the island, you will be in for a treat. However, if you are a bit further away, may you might think about taking that trip up to see a show you’ll never forget.
The best time to see this magic in the sky is between September and March, so let’s look at the top five best places to see the Northern Lights in Ireland to tick it off your bucket list.
5. Kerry Dark Sky Park, Co. Kerry – the best Aurora spot in the Kingdom
County Kerry might not be as far north as some other counties, but this place has to be on our list, considering it has one of Ireland’s darkest and least light polluted skies.
This certified dark sky park is the best place to spot the Northern Lights in County Kerry. You will be guaranteed to have an exceptionally dark sky above you, providing the perfect conditions to catch a glimpse of the green magic.
Address: Cools, Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry
4. Dunree Head, Co. Donegal – a historic site for an Aurora sight
This ideal spot is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Ireland, given that it’s located up north in Donegal and is accessed by a twisting country road along the clifftop, giving unsurpassed northern views.
Here, you have the backdrop of the Dunree Lighthouse and an old military fort nearby, and it is just a bit further along from Drongawn Lough. This is a spot to mark on your map for sure!
Address: Dunree, Co. Donegal
3. Tory Island, Co. Donegal – an Aurora island experience
If you fancy heading a little further afield, then, by all means, take the ferry to Tory Island, where you will have a perfect location to watch the Northern Lights.
Being an island, there is a lot less light pollution than on land, making the chances of seeing the Aurora dancing in the sky more possible.
Address: Toraigh, Co. Donegal
2. Manmore Gap, Co. Donegal – Aurora in the mountains
The ideal position of the mountains here at Manmore Gap provides a great shelter from any light pollution, which would normally dampen your chances of having a one of a kind Aurora experience.
However, this spot on the Inishowen Peninsula is situated ideally to give you the best opportunity to catch a glimpse.
Address: Roxtown, Co. Donegal
1. Malin Head, Co. Donegal – a view from the top of Ireland
Opposite to its southerly counterpart Mizen Head, Malin Head is the most northerly point in Ireland and is one of the top five best places to see the Northern Lights in Ireland because of this.
It makes complete sense to head to the most northerly part of the country to see the Northern Lights. So if you are dying to see them, then you must go to this epic north-facing peninsula and set up base.
Address: Ardmallin, Co. Donegal
So, forget about booking those expensive flights to Alaska or Russia. Instead, head on over to one of the spots on our top five best places to see the Northern Lights in Ireland, and hopefully, you can tick that dream off the bucket list.
Bear in mind that weather and atmospheric conditions play a huge part in your chances of seeing the famous lights, so do a bit of research ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
Generally speaking, in Ireland, when there is an opportunity to see the Aurora in our very own skies, chances are we will know about it.
So keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for any news on Aurora spotting this winter. Winter 2021 will be the year for it; we can feel it in our bones!
