Solar eclipse in Ireland: What to expect, when, where, and how to protect your eyes

A total eclipse of the sun will miss Ireland by only a couple of hundred kilometres, but we will get the next best thing, with 93 per cent coverage in the north and up to 98 per cent coverage in the extreme southwest.

What time?

The partial solar eclipse will begin between 6.09pm in the north and a bit later the farther south you go. Mid-eclipse will be between 7.07pm and 7.13pm and will end just after 8pm across the island.

By mid-eclipse the sky will appear darker than expected, but light levels will still be generally equivalent to a heavily overcast winter’s day or 10-20 minutes before sunset on a clear evening. The sun’s low altitude at this time may alter expectations, though.

A reasonably clear western skyline would allow you to watch the proceedings as the sun starts to get low. The sun will be about 15 per cent above the horizon during the eclipse, an angle that could mean it is obscured by tall trees or buildings, so a clear western horizon will be essential.

Changes in the ambient light level will only become apparent when the sun is nearly 80 per cent obscured.

Where are the best places to see it?

People in the west and south might get up to 98 per cent coverage, while the east and north could get up to 94 per cent coverage.

The best place to see the eclipse will probably be in the southeast, Wicklow, Waterford, Kilkenny and Carlow. The next best is likely to be east Leinster, including Dublin, Meath and Louth.

For the southwest, the forecast is less certain as there are risks of cloud cover. It’s the same in the north and northwest, where it’s likely to be cloudy.

Any places holding events?

Dunsink Observatory sold all tickets for its event and has a waiting list of 700.

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium will be hosting a day full of family-friendly activities on Wednesday to mark the eclipse.

Other places hosting events include Ballycroy Visitor Centre in Mayo, Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork, the Irish Astronomical Society (at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre), the Irish Astronomical Association in Belfast and Midlands Astronomy Club.

Maynooth University has sold out its 450 tickets for a public viewing event, and there is a waiting list with hundreds more.

What should I do to protect my eyes?

Eye experts are urging people not to look directly at the Sun during this evening's eclipse.

Liz Grennan, President of Optometry Ireland, says looking directly at the sun will cause damage to your eyes.

“Really there is no safe way to look at the sun with your own eyes,” she says. “Even a camera on your phone, the sensors on those devices are very sensitive to this light. It’s not just ‘throw on a pair of sunglasses, and it will be fine’. Even a welding mask is not good enough to look at an eclipse.”

Certified eclipse glasses have filters made with special material to reject the sun’s dangerous energy across various wavelengths, but check for any pinholes first by holding them up to a light, and discard if you notice any scratches.

Unfortunately, many major retailers are out of stock of the ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses needed for looking at the sun.

Without taking proper precautions, there is a risk of permanent eye injury due to thermal retinal burn. Your eye’s retina has no pain receptors, so you are unaware as the harm is being done.

Can I use sunglasses to watch the eclipse?

No, it is not safe to watch the eclipse using regular sunglasses. Only specialised eclipse glasses are safe to use.

According to the Nasa, eclipse glasses are several thousand times darker than sunglasses, meaning they are safe for viewing the Sun.

If you have a pair of eclipse glasses, Nasa recommends inspecting them for damage before using and discarding the goggles if torn or scratched.

The organisation also says you should not use eclipse glasses while looking through binoculars, camera lenses, or any other optical device, as the concentrated solar rays will burn through the glasses’ filter and could cause eye injuries.

If eclipse glasses are not available, Nasa suggests using indirect viewing methods. These do not involve looking directly at the Sun, but instead project the eclipse onto a nearby surface.

For example, a pinhole projector can be made using a box, aluminium foil and a white sheet of paper. By taping foil and paper to both ends of the box, then punching a hole in the foil, you can indirectly view the Sun shining through the hole onto the paper.

During the different phases of the eclipse, you will be able to see the shadow from the Moon block out the light projected onto the piece of paper.

If you do not have time to make a pinhole projector, Nasa suggests a good alternative is using a colander. By watching the shadow that the colander projects onto the ground, you can safely view the phases of the eclipse.

Can I use my phone’s camera to view the eclipse?

While using your phone’s front-facing camera to view the eclipse will not damage your eyes, it could destroy your device.

In a post on X, Nasa said that pointing your phone’s camera directly at the Sun could damage its image sensor.

The organisation added that using magnifying lenses attached to the phone camera would increase the risk of damage.

Nasa suggested using a solar filter or holding a pair of eclipse glasses in front of your phone’s lens to protect the sensor from damage.

Why is it dangerous to look at the Sun during an eclipse?

Normally when we glance at the Sun, the brightness prevents us from looking too long and damaging our eyes with solar radiation.

However, while eclipses might appear less bright, the UK Health Security Agency explains that solar radiation is just as dangerous as during any other day.

This leads to people being mistaken that it is safe to look at the Sun during an eclipse.

Mohamed Elalfy, president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: “Looking directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse can cause damage to the retina, potentially damaging the cells responsible for sharp central vision.

“Crucially, the retina has no pain receptors, so people will not feel the damage as it happens.”

The college says that during the 1999 total solar eclipse, around 70 people experienced vision problems, with 40% of cases looking at the Sun for less than a minute.

If you do notice a change in your vision after watching the eclipse, you should promptly seek advice from an eyecare professional.

(Additional reporting: PA)