News
South Kerry proves to be a star attraction
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THE tourism Unit in Kerry County Council and the Destination Kerry Tourism Forum, together with The Skellig Centre for Research & Innovation, and University College Cork presented ‘An Introduction to Astronomy’ weekend course in The Royal Hotel, Valentia Island, last weekend.
This UCC-accredited course was delivered by Professor Paul Callanan of UCC and Dr Michael Connolly, Kerry County Archaeologist. It provided the 28 participants with a working knowledge of the night sky to enable them to develop the business potential of stargazing and expand their skill base to provide an enhanced experience for visitors.
This is the second astronomy course presented by UCC in the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve - an area of approximately 700 square kilometres and one of only three designated gold-tier dark sky reserves on the planet. The skies played their part over the weekend, with an amazing number of stars visible to the participants.
Stargazing is becoming an increasingly popular pastime and astrotourism is a growing niche area within international tourism. This affords Kerry a great opportunity to attract new visitors, especially over the winter months. The County Kerry Tourism Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2022 and the Skellig Coast Visitor Experience Development Plan have identified this niche market and both contain several actions to support and develop an astrotourism product for the South Kerry area.
Some very excited pupils in Scoil Náisiunta Derarca in Chapeltown on Valentia Island were given a wonderful surprise on Friday afternoon when Professor Paul Callanan of UCC dropped in to give them an astronomy presentation. Children from first to sixth class all listened intently as Paul brought them around our solar system and beyond and Valentia has many budding astronomers after the event.
Above: 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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