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Solar Eclipse Ireland: When It Starts and How to Watch It Safely
Published 03:08 12 Aug 2026 BST
Updated 19:43 11 Aug 2026 BST
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Solar Eclipse Ireland: When It Starts and How to Watch It Safely
The biggest solar eclipse Ireland has seen since 1999 takes place on Wednesday evening, with up to 98% of the sun set to be covered in parts of the country. The spectacle begins at around 6.10pm, lasts for roughly two hours and reaches its peak about an hour in — and nothing on this scale will be visible from Ireland again until 2090.
Solar eclipse Ireland: how to watch it safely
One thing the experts agree on: do not look directly at the sun, even with most of it covered. Specialists have issued a warning over fake eclipse glasses being sold online, warning that counterfeit versions could damage your eyesight, so make sure any viewing glasses are the genuine article before looking up.
No glasses? A homemade pinhole projector — RTÉ has even shared a method using an ordinary cereal box — lets you follow the whole thing safely by projecting the sun’s image instead of staring at it.
The eclipse should hit its maximum at around 7.10pm, leaving time to get home and set up. Miss it, and it’s a long wait: Ireland is not expected to see a total eclipse until 2090.
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