Sky’s the limit for astronomy club

STAR Wars film have spawned countless games, gimmicks and tourism opportunities around the world but in West Kerry there’s a less obvious spin-off that will have people looking towards the stars.

The idea arose last year as Ballyferriter was looking at the possibilities presented by the filming of The Last Jedi in the parish and somebody suggested ‘ looking at the stars over our heads’.

According to Breege Granville, it turned out that a lot of people had an interest in doing just that and so the idea of forming an astronomy club was born. An appeal for funding to Minister Brendan Griffin and Fáilte Ireland bore fruit and in May those behind the idea were able to buy a telescope, which has now been installed in Comharchumann Forbatha Chorca Dhuibhne’s headquarters, Áras Bhreanainn in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh.

People are now being invited to a lecture on what is to be seen in the night sky of Corca Dhuibhne, which will be held in Áras Bhreanainn at 7.30pm on Thursday, October 4, when it is also hoped to put the astronomy club on a formal footing.

After that the sky’s the limit, but initial plans include taking the telescope up into the darkness of Mount Brandon, which is one of the few remaining places in West Kerry where the absence of streetlights allows stargazers to view the heavens in all their glory.