Poolbeg Chimneys Aurora Borealis Print

The Aurora Borealis above the Poolbeg Chimneys in Dublin during a very rare G5 geomagnetic storm on Friday the 9th and into Saturday May 10th, 2024, above Ireland.

It is very rare to see the Northern Lights with such clarity in the city, especially so close to Dublin city centre. I had originally planned to move further away from the light pollution, but after checking the aurora forecast and then taking a test shot near Dun Laoghaire I knew that the aurora had moved far enough south and was strong enough that I turned around and headed for home.

The Chimneys have always been my muse, and a chance to get such a rare picture could not be missed. When I arrived back in Sandymount the promenade was as busy as a sunny summer day, and I could see the wave of the aurora borealis out in Dublin Bay. I quickly moved out into the darkness on Sandymount Strand to take in the full show as the lights crossed the sky from east to west directly above me. It was the perfect moment to catch this photograph as the Poolbeg Chimneys and Northern Lights reflected on the incoming tide.

It was an aurora show over Dublin that hasn't been seen since 2003, it looks wonderful in print, and who knows when we'll see it again...