This might be a daft question, but surely one of the requirements for gaining a dark site award would be that there are places to go and observe, like camp sites or parking areas?

There's no point in awarding it if everyone has to stand in a lay-by or the middle of some farmer's field.

Hi Stevie

I'm pretty sure there would be something
like that around.. I sent an email to the South Kerry Astronomy Club
but I've had no response back yet..

So Seanie if you have any contacts in South Kerry
you can give them my Number and we could get a couple
of possible venues.

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut

Hi Roy,

As part of the Cork Astronomy Club we have been down to the Kerry dark sky reserve twice over the past two years.

Both visits have been late in the year October,November and stayed in hostel in Ballinskelligs which they have kindly opened and made available to us for the weekends with help of Julie Ormonde and other members of Kerry club.
Great viewing is possible from large paved area outside hostel and hostel itself has accommodation for upwards 20 to 30 people or possibly more but of course off season.
Hope this is some help.
John.

,

Nice1 John..

Comments like that is what gets more people
like myself and like minded astronomers to get
involved with an event like this..

I also notice that this thread seems to be slowing down
when it was gathering pace, we need to get our foot back on the pedal
and keep this thing happening...(Don't let it slip through our fingers)

I'm going to contact Julie after the bank holiday weekend
and see what type of input and advice she could give about the
area, like where is the best flattest horizon with nice camping facilities.

I'll keep you all posted when I get more information.
But lets keep this rolling.

P.S thank you Seanie for passing on Julies contact information.

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut

Hi Guys.

Here's a quick link for you all..

www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/tale-two-festivals/

Who knows! If all goes well it could be a big annual event on these shores.
Remember this is the ONLY Gold Tier Dark Sky site in Europe.
Not even Sark has been given that honor.

Cheers Roy

If this does get off the ground for August, and proves to be popular, then there is the possibility of holding a similar event sometime in the winter, early new year perhaps. As John has stated, there are hostels that could be made available, I for one would dearly love to see the winter constellations from a truly dark site and to explore those regions in the winter south that are denied us, such as the southern regions of Puppis, Eridanus and Hydra, along with Fornax and Columba.

Paul

Okay Guy and Gals..

The long weekend is over and it's time
to get back down to business..
I'm still waiting on Julie to get back to me,
but from what I can gather Ballinskelligs is the place
for this.. It has good hostels and camping areas for those
of us willing to hardcore the weekend..

with yer permission I'm gonna do up a few fliers
and send them via email to all IFAS associated
club chairmen and P.R.O's.. So lets voice off on some dates..
I originally had it down for Aug 22- Aug 24th.. Those dates seem
to work for Oct as-well.

Looking forward getting some more feedback on this.

Regards
Roy Stewart #LunarNut
to all the

Hi Roy,

I'd be ambitious and go for both dates.
Kerry at the end of October might be a bit of a shock for those of us unused to camping so the end of August would break us into it.

Michael.

This is a great idea. Hopefully it will get a to a point where there is somewhere to go for a 1-2 nights every new moon weekend for those who want to.
The state aussie clubs have their own dark sky sites which are open once a month for members and visitors.Some are pretty sophisticated but others good enough for camping in the warmer months. All you need is a remote site ($$$), a Barn or metal building to use as a simple kitchen and meeting room, a warm open fire, a loo and plonk a few old caravans for sleeping areas. It may look like a halting site but its quite effective.
Ideally a bit of land with an old cottage or farm house that is going for next to nothing $$wise and in need of maintenance. Great project and somewhere to hang out once a month.
For a national starparty just put up a marque for the presentations, meetings.....Seen it done

Hi Michael..

I think both dates would be out of the question.
Getting people together from all over this fair Island
of ours is for Aug is going to be difficult enough without
adding another weekend..

It is a thought though, Maybe something early Autumn
and Mid-Late Winter would be feasible..

Late Aug 22nd-24th or Sept 26th-28th. For Autumn this year

And for Winter, Sometime in Jan(working around the new Moon).

Hi John...

Good to hear from you again,
I think something like that is easier
to organize in a country like Australia.
Ye get a few more clear nights than we do
as well you know from observing in Ireland.

We can only set dates for these kind of events
and then start crossing fingers-toes-eyes and what
ever else you can cross for the weather to play ball..

I'm still waiting on Julie to get back to me
but as I said earlier Ballinskelligs looks like the place
with the most positive feedback.

Cheers
Roy Stewart #LunarNut

Come on guys... Lets keep this moving.
Get onto yer respective club members, Chairperson/P.R.O
about this event.. Chime back here and I'll get a printable flier
sent to the club.
So far it looks like Aug 22nd-24th or Sept 26th-28th
as these 2 weekend date corresponds with a close to new Moon.

I have a rough draft of the flier done up and I will put it up here so
ye can all have a look.

Regards
Roy Stewart #ClearSkies #LunarNut

Hi Roy,

I've put up a reminder on the Dublin Stargazers group.

If anyone from Shannonside is looking at this - have you decided on dates for the BSP this year?
I checked your website and there is no date on it.

Michael.

I've updated the flier a bit..
Have a look and tell me what ye think..

Cheers
Roy Stewart #ClearSkies #LunarNut

Hi Roy,

Can you post it at a higher resolution? I can't read it.

Michael.

Hi again Roy,

While it would be great to do some summer or early autumn observing ,especially low southern sky , I would imagine that there will be very limited access to accommodation during this busy tourist period. I doubt very much that the hostel would welcome keeping their guests awake with all night observing in the car park which is directly below the bedrooms!. Not sure what camping facilities are available in the area but probably have same problem.
Also expect a lot of us will be taking breaks at this time of year.

Definitely need to have a chat with Julie I would think.
John.

WE will discuss at MAC committee meeting on Tuesday Roy

Cork club also holding committee meeting next week so hope to discuss it there Roy.

John

Nice1 Guys..(Dave-John)

Plz post yer outcome from those meetings
regarding this event back here as i will be
ready to go with the distribution of the fliers
to individual clubs..
I will also get in contact with Ronan Newman-GAC
and Gordon Lalor-SAC.

I am still awaiting a response from Julie from the emails
I sent her.. So if anyone out there has a contact number
for Julie would they plz P.M it to me as I really believe
this type of event is long over due for this country..
And now that we boast the only Gold Tier Dark Sky site
in Europe, It would be a shame to not have something like this
once a year..

Also the dates I picked are for 2 reasons

1: It is the start of Autumn, not to long after Summer so good chance
of better skies.
2: The weekends I picked fall around the time of new Moon, Where we have
the opportunity to take advantage of the lack of light, Also to catch those elusive southerly constellations
like Sagittarius-Capricornus and a few of those famous clusters.

Regards
Roy Stewart #ClearSkies #LunarNut

There has been a trickle of interest up here since I put it on the website a while ago, so we should be able to get a few down.
I'll wait to hear the results of your discussions before going back to those who have expressed an interest.

Just one thing. If we approach a particular hostel or campsite, and ask about a weekend star party or observing session, and they refuse us because we may disturb other guests, then that would make the whole idea of getting dark sky status pretty pointless. Surely the main reason for getting the status was to attract astronomers to the area. And astronomers do tend to have an alarming tendency to be out after dark.
We don't want to go in there with wellies kicking all round the place, but on the other hand, we don't want to be told to go away and come back in January when there is nobody else there.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

Totally agree with you Stevie..

It is after all an Astronomical dark sky reserve,
So I believe the locals and other guests would
have a fair idea what time Astronomers get to bed..

And we really don't hold that many ravers and keggers...
We set up, do a night full of observing and then hit the bed.
Can't see that being a distraction to the locals(not even the wildlife).

Cheers
Roy Stewart #ClearSkies #LunarNut

Hi Guys..

Here is a look at a recent astrocamp in the
UK...
Found it up on my twitter page.
This is what it'll be like..(looks good to me)

Hi all,

This is a great idea and something we should do more of. I've flagged it up for discussion at the IAA Council meeting later in the month and will report back. Timing's not so good for us, we are celebrating our 40th birthday so will be devoting considerable effort to that in the same timeframe, but equally that doesn't rule anything out.

Clear skies,

Paul.

Hi Paul..

Congrats on yer 40th anniversary, Most make ye
1 of the longest running amateur astronomy club in
the country.. I know a few clubs(like S.A.C & G.A.C) are coming up on 30yrs..
What better way to celebrate it than doing what amateur
astronomers love to do, viewing the heavens from Europes
only Gold Tier Dark Sky site.
Should this event go ahead it would be great to see ye
there and congratulate ye all in person on yer dedication to the hobby
of amateur astronomy..

Regards
Roy Stewart #ClearSkies #LunarNut

Hi Roy,

Ben over at the Stargazers group looked at accomodation for September at booking.com.

The Skellig Lodge allows for free cancellation up to two days prior to the date.

Michael.

Great minds think alike..
I was also looking at the
same place... But I got a tent
just in-case.

Cheers Roy