Solar eclipse draws a crowd in Ballykeeran

by Navjyoti Dalal

Ballykeeran's viewing point, which is usually accessed to soak in splendid views of Lough Ree, was a meeting spot for a different reason last Wednesday evening as a crowd of up to 100 people gathered in the hope of catching a clear glimpse of the solar eclipse.

Locals of all age groups assembled, equipped with special glasses, welding masks, and even colanders to help them watch the rare phenomenon unfold.

Among those present was Jackie Gorman, Athlone-based poet and CEO of Midlands Science, with her friend Orla Martin.

Jackie shared that the atmosphere was very festive as people came together to witness the rare celestial movement.

“I work in science communication and it was so good to see that people are still interested in natural phenomena. We were also lucky that the sky wasn't very clouded at that time,” she said.

The experience had a picnic kind of vibe, with a varied mix of ages. People came with friends and family, bringing whatever viewing equipment they could manage, including DIY pinhole projects and colanders from the kitchen.

Special glasses to watch the eclipse weren't readily available in Athlone. “It was nice to see people sharing their glasses with those who didn't have any,” explained Jackie, who ordered her glasses online after searching for them at opticians.

Camaraderie soon made its way between the group, which was visible in the conversations they had.

“We were calculating what age the kids would be when the next eclipse happens in 2090,” said Jackie, for whom it was a first experience watching a solar eclipse. “The last time it was visible in Ireland, in 1999, I was away working in West Africa,” she added.

Much like Jackie, an Indian family too was feeling lucky to be able to witness the eclipse. “An Indian family with three generations was also present, they said they were lucky to be in Ireland to watch it, because the eclipse wasn't visible in India,” she said.

As the moon covered the sun, and the light dimmed to a twilight, even the natural world mistook it for dusk.

“When it got a little bit darker during the eclipse, we saw that some birds, mostly starlings, perched on a tree and began to roost,” Jackie said.

As the sun regained visibility, the feathered beings were left confused.