COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 09, 2024

QUESTION NO.11

QUESTION: Councillor L. Hagin Meade

To ask for an update on contacts and progress made with Dublin Mountains Partnership and National Parks and Wildlife Service regarding RTFB ACM September 2023, Motion 1, the exploration of Dark Skies for the Dublin Mountains.

REPLY:

A dark sky preserve is an area that restricts artificial light pollution to preserve the natural darkness of the night sky. There are a number of designations given by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). Proving night skies are pristine or up to the standard of IDA accreditation can be challenging, especially within the outskirts Dublin city, the largest urban area on the Island. If an area is deemed eligible by the IDA, it can take several years to achieve dark sky status. Interested groups engage with local communities to seek buy in, review eligibility requirements, and undertake regular sky quality assessments etc before a formal application can be made for consideration.

Following the Motion submitted at the RTFB ACM in September 2023, South Dublin County Council made contact with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Dublin Mountains Partnership (DMP) to explore the idea.  The DMP will place the item on its agenda for further discussion.  The Council will follow up on these contacts.