Best places in Mayo for a solar eclipse watch party

All eyes in Mayo will be fixed on the horizon of the Atlantic at around 7pm this evening with the west of the county considered the ideal location to take in the solar eclipse.

The first total solar eclipse to take place on mainland Europe since 1999 will occur this evening and will sweep down from Greenland and Iceland and across the North Atlantic Ocean before making landfall in northern Spain.

A solar eclipse is a natural event where the moon passes directly between the sun and Earth, blocking the sun's light.

While the total solar eclipse will take place approximately 350km west of Ireland, it is expected that 96 percent of the sun will be covered along the west of Mayo, making it one of the best places in Ireland to witness a solar eclipse.

The eclipse is set to start at 6.12pm with the maximum eclipse at around 7.10pm and the end of the eclipse at 8.05pm.

A number of watch parties have been organised by groups to take place along the west coast and be part of a historic moment which will not happen again so close to Ireland until 2090.

Newport Astronomy Club are inviting members of the public to 'an unforgettable' Solar Eclipse Viewing Party on the Viaduct Railway Bridge in Newport to experience one of nature's most spectacular events together.

“Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or it's your first eclipse, everyone is welcome! Bring your family and friends and enjoy this incredible celestial event with fellow astronomy enthusiasts,” they stated on their Facebook page.

The excitement in the west Mayo town ahead of this evening's eclipse is so much that special solar glasses used to safely witness the eclipse which were on sale in Newport tourism office have now been sold out.

Erris at Night, a community organisation dedicated to showcasing the environment, maintaining dark skies, and reducing light pollution in Erris are meeting at Cross beach on the Mullet Peninsula from 6pm.

“Regardless of how much of the eclipse we actually see, we already know we'll be amazed. We're eager to examine how the phenomenon affects our other senses too. We'll be watching the seas and skies for erratic bird behaviour, we'll be listening for any changes in the aural atmosphere... we'll be alert to sense any changes in the wind, both speed and direction, and generally pay attention to what the natural world is telling us about this rare celestial event,” the group stated on Facebook.

Louisburgh Astronomy Club are also meeting at Carrowniskey beach from 6pm and Mayo Dark Skies are holding an already sold out solar eclipse viewing in the Ballycroy Visitor Centre from 5pm with an information presentation by Ronan Newman.

People have been advised only to use proper certified solar viewing protection when witnessing the eclipse and not to look directly at the sun even with sunglasses as it can cause permanent damage.

At the time of the eclipse, the sun will be low in the west-northwest position, so viewers will need a clear, unobstructed view toward the horizon and it is recommended that protected eclipse glasses are worn to look at the sun without damaging your eyes.

In Ireland, where the eclipse is deep but not total, it is expected that the dimming of the light should be noticeable without becoming full darkness.

As an added treat for star gazers around Mayo, the spectacular Perseid meteor shower is expected to be seen across the county on the evening of August 12 and into the morning of August 13.

The event is associated with the dusty debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun once every 133 years. The meteoroids from the comet, mostly no bigger than a grain of sand, burn up as they hit the Earth's atmosphere at 36 miles per second, to produce a shooting stream of light in the sky.