Aurora Borealis. Photo: John Underhill

ANY mention of the Aurora Borealis immediately strikes up images of green and red flashes streaking over snow-capped peaks.

The natural phenomenon rarely ventures this far south, so we tend to get pretty excited when it does.

Burren Vet John Underhill hastily snapped this photo of last night’s sky show, when he saw the aurora over his house in Kilfenora.

“The columns come and go very quickly. If I hadn’t taken the photo so quickly I wouldn’t have got them,” he said.

Aurora Alert Ireland announced that the Northern Lights would be making its way to Ireland, but gave little hope of spotting them due to the brightness of the moon.

We were astonished to learn that we could have been looking right at the aurora borealis and not seen them, as it’s difficult for human eyes to register the colour due to the way they perceive light.

“You’ll see them out of the corner of your eye,” John added.

John used his Nikon DSLR camera, leaving the shutter open for 10 seconds to catch the spectacular light show.

Related News

Jack Fennell, chairman of Kilrush Urban Council || Credit: RTE Archives, Economic Disaster Zone1,976
Kilrush 50 years after worrying RTÉ report: From 'deprived town' to a town of opportunity
pexels-vidalbalielojrfotografia-11295737
Up to 1,000 Clare children waiting for Early Years places
Photo by Arthur Ellis Caoimhe Lally, Bunratty Co
Newmarket-on-Fergus' Caoimhe Lally graduates after All-Ireland-winning year
Mountshannon Harbour || Inset: Cllr Pat Burke
Calls for action over 'bad state' of Mountshannon Harbour
Latest News
pexels-vidalbalielojrfotografia-11295737
Up to 1,000 Clare children waiting for Early Years places
st josephs doora barefield v kilmurry ibrickane 14-09-25 diarmuid king 1
Kilmurry Ibrickane to be without injured King for remainder of championship
myles cummins breda casey 1 (1)
Cummins strikes twice in Limerick
st josephs doora:barefield vs kilmihil 29-08-26 tom mcdonald cathal murray 1
Preliminary quarter-final awaits The Parish as another relegation battle looms for Kilmihil
kildysart v kilmihil 29-08-25 keith o'connor 2
Killer edge from Kildysart sees them overcome Ennistymon by eleven points
Premium
No luck needed for Éire Óg to earn top spot and beat Miltown by thirteen
Doonbeg make quarter-finals for first time since 2019 & send Cratloe into relegation battle
Clash with champions Éire Óg 'the real acid test' for St Joseph's Miltown
Date with Doonbeg is 'winner-takes all' clash for Cratloe
Big names return in last-chance saloon for Clare SFC knockout spots

Annual Subscription!

The Clare Echo annual subscription for just €69.99 a year. 

Prefer to pay monthly? Click the monthly option and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. 

Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.