Mayo leads out in tackling impact of light pollution

MAYO is leading out in tackling light pollution, for which there is not yet national legislation in place.

In Newport, a Mayo Dark Skies project has achieved a 50% reduction in light pollution, and with more work that could get to 80%.

Across the county, a retrofit of public lighting to LED is 73% complete, reducing energy use and bringing positive benefits for biodiversity.

This was just some of the good news Georgia MacMillan of Mayo Dark Skies shared in a presentation to members of Mayo County Council's environment and climate change strategic policy committee.

Next month, the county will be the focus of global attention when the ninth International Artificial Light at Night Conference (ALAN) conference comes to Westport, from October 28 to 31.

It's the first time the event will be hosted in Ireland, with 28 countries registered to date and more than 200 delegates attending. And immediately after attention turns to the annual Mayo Dark Skies Festival, which had an attendance of over 1,000 people last year.

Projects and areas of work are numerous for Mayo Dark Skies, as Ms. McMillan outlined, from reducing light spill into the river habitat in Newport to identifying key areas for 'getting the right light at the right time', from public buildings to the hospitality sector, sports clubs, parks and residential settings.

A dimming programme of street lights in Newport has commenced, but engagement with TII is needed for it longer term, with Councillor Peter Flynn expressing his frustration that TII were 'dragging their heels' on the project.

He asked they contact TII urging them to take action, saying this was something that could be rolled out across the county, which would have an impact in so many ways.

Education was another point he touched on after being shown a photo of the night sky over Castlebar viewed from 20 kilometres away. Property owners needed to be educated to make them aware of the damage caused to the environment by light pollution, said Councillor Flynn.

Sports clubs were another sector for rolling out awareness, where, for example, you can have settings for lighting for training and fuller lights for matches.