Solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 in Ireland: where and when to see it
An exceptional astronomical phenomenon visible across Ireland
The Irish sky is set to offer a rare spectacle. On Wednesday 12 August 2026, a spectacular solar eclipse will be visible across Ireland. Although the island will not lie within the path of totality, the phenomenon will be particularly impressive: depending on the region, around 94% to more than 96% of the Sun’s disc will be obscured by the Moon.
The eclipse will begin shortly after 18:00 and reach its peak at around 19:10. For a few minutes, only a thin sliver of the Sun will remain visible in the Irish sky.
The south-west of the country will be particularly well placed. In some parts of Kerry, the obscuration could reach around 96 to 97%. Cork, Limerick and Galway will also enjoy a particularly deep eclipse.
What time will the solar eclipse be visible in Ireland?
The maximum is expected at around 19:10
The eclipse will take place in the early evening, allowing many travellers to enjoy it. Times will vary slightly depending on location.
| City | Start | Maximum | End | Sun obscured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 18:12 | 19:10 | 20:05 | About 94% |
| Galway | 18:12 | 19:10 | 20:06 | About 96% |
| Limerick | 18:13 | 19:11 | 20:07 | About 96% |
| Waterford | 18:14 | 19:12 | 20:07 | About 95% |
| Cork | 18:15 | 19:13 | 20:08 | About 96.4% |
Where to see the solar eclipse in Ireland?
Kerry and the south-west will be particularly well placed
To make the most of the phenomenon, south-west Ireland stands out as one of the most appealing regions. Some areas of County Kerry are expected to approach 97% obscuration.
The Atlantic coast also offers a considerable advantage: its many open spaces make it easy to find a wide, unobstructed horizon.
The Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula and certain stretches of the West Cork coast could therefore offer spectacular conditions, provided the Irish clouds do not make an appearance.
Galway and the Clare coast will also be very well positioned. In Galway, nearly 96% of the Sun will be obscured.
However, there will be no need to travel across Ireland to see the eclipse. In Dublin, nearly 94% of the Sun’s disc will be obscured: the spectacle will remain remarkable.
What weather is forecast for the eclipse?
Cloud cover will be the deciding factor
This is the great unknown. A solar eclipse of more than 96% obviously loses much of its appeal when a thick Irish cloud decides to linger directly in front of the Sun.
Two days before the event, forecasts are beginning to become accurate enough to identify the potentially most favourable regions. Cloud cover may nevertheless remain highly variable from one part of the island to another.
It will therefore be wise to check local forecasts on Wednesday morning before finally choosing an observation spot.
Why will the eclipse not be total in Ireland?
The path of totality will pass further south
The eclipse of 12 August 2026 will indeed be a total solar eclipse on a global scale. The path in which the Moon will completely cover the Sun will cross Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, among other places.
Ireland will remain just outside this zone.
From Ireland, it will therefore be a partial solar eclipse, even though the level of obscuration will be high enough to make the phenomenon spectacular.
It is important to make this distinction: even when more than 95% of the Sun is obscured, the eclipse never becomes total. A small portion of the Sun’s surface will remain visible from Ireland at all times.
Will the sky become completely dark?
A sharp drop in light, but not true night
No. Even with 94 to 97% of the Sun obscured, Ireland will not be plunged into complete darkness.
However, ambient light should diminish very noticeably around the maximum. The atmosphere may take on an unusual appearance, and the perceived temperature may also drop slightly.
The phenomenon will be all the more striking as the Sun will already be relatively low in the sky in the early evening.
Take care of your eyes during the eclipse
Special glasses are essential
Never look directly at the Sun without suitable protection.
This rule still applies even when 90, 95 or 97% of the Sun’s disc is hidden. The small part that remains visible is still intense enough to cause serious eye damage.
Glasses specifically designed for observing eclipses must be used throughout the phenomenon. They must comply with the international ISO 12312-2 standard.
Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, do not provide sufficient protection.
Nor should you look at the eclipse directly through binoculars, a telephoto lens or a telescope without a suitable solar filter.
Can you photograph the eclipse with your smartphone?
A few precautions are necessary
A smartphone can be used to capture the atmosphere, but never look directly at the Sun through an optical device without suitable protection.
To take genuinely detailed photographs of the eclipse with a camera or telephoto lens, an appropriate solar filter is required.
For travellers, photographing the landscapes, changing light and overall atmosphere may also produce more interesting images than simply using digital zoom on the Sun.
Another astronomical spectacle a few hours later
The Perseids will also reach their peak
The evening of 12 August will be doubly exceptional for astronomy enthusiasts.
A few hours after the eclipse, the famous Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak on the night of 12 to 13 August.
Travellers will therefore be able to watch the eclipse in the early evening and then, if the sky remains clear, wait until nightfall to observe the meteors.
For the Perseids, this time it will be necessary to get as far as possible from the lights of Dublin, Cork, Galway and other major cities in order to enjoy a dark sky.
A day that could therefore begin like any other summer day in Ireland, see the Sun almost disappear around 19:10, and end beneath a shower of shooting stars.
