Killarney, and indeed most of Ireland was treated to a rare and spectacular display of the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, last week!

The spectacle was due to a powerful solar storm, likely caused by a large sunspot cluster, ejected charged particles towards Earth. These particles interacted with Earth's magnetic field, primarily near the poles and when these charged particles collide with gases in the upper atmosphere, they create the dazzling light displays we know as the Aurora Borealis.
Normally, the Aurora Borealis is most visible in high-latitude regions like Iceland or Norway however, the strength of this particular solar storm caused the auroras to be visible further south, reaching even Ireland. Reports suggested sightings across the country, with particularly clear views in northern and western counties. While geomagnetic storms can increase the likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights in Ireland, they are still a relatively rare occurrence.
Our photographs here were captured by Valerie O’Sullivan.