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Pope’s astronomer to turn heavenly gaze on Kerry’s skies

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Nocturnal view during August Perseid looking southwest over McCarthy's Castle and Horse Island Ballinskelligs Beach, the only designated gold-tier International Dark-Sky Reserve in the Northern Hemisphere. PICTURE: DON MACMONAGLE

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THE Pope’s astronomer, Brother Guy Consolmagno, will visit the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve on Tuesday, October 17.

The director of the Vatican Observatory, Br Guy is due to deliver two talks – one to secondary school students at Coláiste na Sceilge, Caherciveen, and the second, a public lecture later that evening at 8pm, also at Coláiste na Sceilge, entitled “The Heavens Proclaim: Astronomy and the Vatican”.

He is visiting County Kerry at the invitation of Steve Lynott, chairman, Skellig Coast Dark Skies Committee, which is seeking to popularise South West Kerry and its pristine dark skies for astrotourism. He will be officially welcomed to the county by Councillor John Sheehan, Mayor of Kerry, and Kerry County Council. “It is a great honour for the county to have Br Guy Consolmagno visit. It demonstrates the importance that he and other world astronomers attach to the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve and our efforts to protect and promote it,” said Mayor Sheahan.

Br Guy is a Jesuit brother and a planetary scientist at the Vatican Observatory, who divides his time between observatories in Rome and in Arizona, USA. His work brings him around the world to dozens of countries and every continent, including a meteorite hunting expedition in 1996 to Antarctica.

He is the author of several books on Astronomy and Science and the Church, including “Turn Left at Orion: Hundreds of Night Sky Objects to See in a Home Telescope – and How to Find Them” which he co-wrote with Dan Davis. This book is used by many amateur astronomers as their guide to the night skies.

Br Guy, who holds doctorates in Lunar and Planetary Science from the University of Arizona, Harvard University and MIT, joined the Jesuit Order in 1989. He believes in the need for science and religion to work alongside one another rather than as competing ideologies.

 


 
A nocturnal view during August Perseid over Ballinskelligs Beach, the only designated gold-tier International Dark-Sky Reserve in the Northern Hemisphere.
Pic: Don MacMonagle

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Rewild Festival organisers reveal expanded line-up for 2026 event

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Organisers of the Rewild Festival have unveiled the official details for the 2026 event, which returns to the old Dunloe Golf Course on July 11.

Building on the success of previous years, the festival has expanded its schedule to include early Friday camping on 10 July, transforming the event into a multi-day experience.

The weekend begins on Friday evening with storytelling, candlelit tales, fireside sessions, and two on-site saunas.

The event will also feature an Irish festival first, offering attendees the opportunity to experience being buried in mycelium.

Saturday features 15 live acts across the main stages, all-day DJ sets, and over 20 wellness workshops covering sound baths and breathwork.

The day’s activities also include a céilí on the hill, market stalls, educational talks, children’s entertainment, fire shows, and art installations.

Live music performances will continue through Sunday, 12 July until lunchtime.

A wide selection of regional food and drink vendors will be available on-site, featuring local businesses such as Muckross Ice Cream, The Black Sheep, and Pigs Lane.

The festival bar will serve draught beers from Killarney’s newest brewery, Loinnir Brewing.

Additionally, organisers have confirmed that if the Kerry GAA team plays during the weekend, the match will be broadcast live on a big screen.

Festival co-founder Kevin Leahy noted that the crew has thoroughly enjoyed watching the community grow.

“We’ve sold over 70% of tickets and expect to sell out, so we won’t be selling tickets on the gate,” Leahy stated.

Information and remaining tickets are available on the official website at www.rewildfestival.ie, and physical tickets can be purchased directly at the Black Sheep Hostel.

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Lions Club Donates €11.5k to Community groups and schools

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Killarney Lions Club has donated €11,500 to seven community groups and schools in the Killarney area and Childhood Cancer in Cork.

The money was raised through a variety of Lions activities and events during the year, in particular the Club’s Annual Golf Classic and Scrap Metal Collection.

The local organisations that received donations were Kerry Hospice Foundation, Irish Kidney Association, Kerry Cancer Support Group, Killarney Cardiac Response Unit, Kerry Mental Health Association, Killarney Community College and St. Brendan’s College Killarney.

“We had great support for our Golf Classic this year, with 26 teams taking part at Killarney Golf Club on April 24th, and the Scrap Metal Collection was supported by MF Quirke’s Sand and Gravel, builder Keith McMahon and our partners KWD Recycling” said Jason Higgins, President, Killarney Lions Club. “Thanks to everyone’s generosity we are now able to make these donations to a variety of organisations in the local area, and we hope it will help them to continue providing great support and services in our community.”

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