Top Tips for Safely Viewing Ireland’s Once-in-a-Generation Solar Eclipse

As excitement builds ahead of the solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, experts from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) are encouraging people across Ireland to start planning now for what will be one of the most remarkable astronomical events visible from the island in our lifetime.

In Ireland, the eclipse will see up to 97% of the Sun obscured by the Moon in parts of the southwest, with approximately 94% coverage visible from Dublin and up to 98% from Valentia Island, Co. Kerry. It is set to be Ireland’s best solar eclipse for generations, and astronomy enthusiasts, families and curious skywatchers are being urged to prepare in advance to safely enjoy the spectacle.

DIAS Top Tips for Viewing the Eclipse

Never look directly at the Sun

Looking directly at the Sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage, even when most of the Sun is covered by the Moon. Ordinary sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection. Never point a camera, telescope, binoculars or mobile phone directly at the Sun without the appropriate solar filters. Doing so can damage equipment and pose a risk to eyesight.

Use certified eclipse glasses or make your own eclipse viewer

Anyone planning to view the eclipse directly should either use internationally certified solar eclipse glasses or make your own eclipse viewer, using cardboard and a small pin-sized hole. The carboard projector projects an image of the Sun onto a surface, allowing you to safely observe the changing shape of the Sun as the Moon passes in front of it. Pinhole Projectors projects are easy to make, completely safe and a great way to get children involved in the event – for a tutorial on how to make on, visit the DIAS Dunsink Instagram page.

Choose your location carefully

The farther southwest you travel, the greater the percentage of the Sun that will be covered by the Moon. Find a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the western horizon and try to arrive early if attending a public viewing event.

Make it a shared experience

The eclipse offers a fantastic opportunity to learn more about space science with family and friends. Many astronomy groups and observatories around Ireland will host public viewing events on the day.

Learn the science behind the spectacle

During the eclipse, scientists will use a specially designed telescope known as E-CorMag to observe the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, called the corona. They will  investigate the magnetic fields that shape this super-heatedregion of the solar atmosphere. The research will contribute to a better understanding of space weather and how activity on the Sun can affect technologies here on Earth.

Director of DIAS Dunsink, Prof. Peter Gallagher, said: “The 2026 eclipse is a rare opportunity for people across Ireland to connect with science and look up at the sky with a sense of wonder. Whether you’re attending an organised event or viewing it from your garden, we encourage everyone to do so safely and take a moment to appreciate the extraordinary alignment taking place above us.”

DIAS will host a special public viewing event, Eclipse26 at Dunsink Observatory, featuring expert talks, family-friendly activities, telescope viewing and opportunities to meet solar physicists and astronomy researchers. Eclipse glasses will be provided to attendees.

For more information on the eclipse, public events and safe viewing guidance, visit Eclipse26.ie.

See more stories here.