Dark Sky Breaks
At Mulranny Park Hotel
Close your eyes for a second: the engine’s off, phones are tucked away, and the only sound is Atlantic surf somewhere in the dark. When you look up, thousands of pin‑sharp stars appear – so many that the Milky Way looks like a brush‑stroke of light. Welcome to Mayo Dark Sky Park, proudly Ireland’s first Gold‑Tier International Dark Sky Park and newly crowned International Dark Sky Place of the Year 2024. Set between the untamed Nephin Beg mountain range and the Wild Atlantic Way, part of Wild Nephin National Park and stays open free of charge both day and night.
AN ADVENTURE SEEKERS PARADISE
- Award‑winning nightscape – the 2024 accolade means the park is officially one of the best places on Earth to see the stars together.
- Gold‑Tier darkness – count 4,500 stars with the naked eye, spot planets, meteor showers and the Milky Way without expensive kit.
- Untamed daytime playground – hike wild bog trails, bike the Great Western Greenway or kayak Clew Bay before night falls.
- Always open, always free – spontaneity encouraged. Pack the flask, follow the sunset and arrive whenever the sky clears.
SIGNATURE STARGAZING SPOTS
- Letterkeen Car Park & Trailhead
Darkest & Wildest – 20 km north of Newport, this remote trailhead offers pitch‑black skies and looped walks for daytime exploring. - Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail
Stars & Sea Spray – stroll the 2 km boardwalk above tidal flats and watch constellations rise over the bay to a soundtrack of waves. - Ballycroy Visitor Centre boardwalk
Easy Access – open all year round ; by night this 2km loop delivers big‑sky views just off the N59.
All three sites meet Gold‑Tier standards, so choose the level of adventure that suits your mood (and driving stamina).
WHEN TO PLAN YOUR ESCAPE
- Irish Astronomy Week – early March: guided Dark Sky Walks and Astronomy themed events.
- International Dark Sky Week – 21–28 April 2025: free talks, pop‑up Dark Sky themed events.
- Mayo Dark Sky Festival – 31 Oct–2 Nov 2025: three days of music, science, folklore and late‑night astronomy across Newport, Mulranny & Ballycroy.
Between September and April the long, crisp nights give you the highest odds of clear, dark skies.
STARGAZER ESSENTIALS
- Wind‑blocking layers and boots (west‑coast breezes have bite).
- A red‑beam head torch to protect night vision.
- A stargazing app (Sky Guide, Star Walk or Night Sky) to help identify constellations.
BOOK YOUR STAY AT MULRANNY PARK HOTEL
Just 20 minutes from Wild Nephin National Park, Mulranny Park Hotel is perfectly placed for guests steering their own adventure weekends.
- Daytime Journeys– rent e‑bikes for the Greenway, take a sea swim or hike the coastal trail
- Après‑adventure unwind – sea‑view suites and fireside seats for a well‑earned night-cap
Wild Nephin National Park is committed to preserving these pristine skies so future generations can fall in love with the night just as you will. By visiting, you help support that mission.
Book your Dark Sky escape at Mulranny Park Hotel and let Mayo’s night sky turn your next break into a shared adventure you’ll talk about for years.
