Our area of South West Kerry has just been designated as a dark skies reserve, the first place in the Northern Hemisphere to receive such a designation.The International Dark-Skies Association found that the skies of the Iveragh Peninsula, an area measuring 700 sq km, should be designated a dark-skies reserve. The area is now a Gold-Tier Dark Sky Reserve. Only two other places in the world, in Namibia and New Zealand, have received such a designation for their pristine skies. The accolade makes the area attractive to tourists who want to see the night sky without it being affected by light pollution. Its location between the Atlantic Ocean and the Kerry Mountains, provides natural protection against light pollution.
