Photo: Colin Park / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Partial solar eclipse · 12 August 2026

Where to watch the 2026 solar eclipse in Kerry

Kerry sees the deepest eclipse anywhere in Ireland — about 97% of the Sun covered at Tralee — with the Sun 16.5° above the horizon and the Atlantic opening the whole western sky.

Partial eclipse Get certified eclipse glasses

Maximum~19:12 ISTMunster · 12 Aug 2026 · maximum eclipse

Duration~1h 54m of partial eclipseThis is the full partial eclipse from first to last contact. There is no totality here — the Sun is never completely covered, so there is no corona and no moment when it is safe to look without protection.

Sun altitude~16° above the WNW horizonhigh enough that cloud, not terrain, is the risk

Coverage97.0% (partial)Kerry is OUTSIDE the path of totality. About 97.0% of the Sun is covered at maximum — a deep partial eclipse, but not a total one. The corona never appears and the sky does not go dark.

Clear-sky odds Cloud is very likely · ≈42%Ireland in August is cloudy more often than not, and conditions change fast. Mobility and low expectations both help — but the Sun is high enough that a moderate gap in the cloud is all you need.

Counting down to maximum

—days —hrs —min —sec

Kerry sees the deepest eclipse anywhere in Ireland — about 97% of the Sun covered at Tralee — with the Sun 16.5° above the horizon and the Atlantic opening the whole western sky.

Below: Kerry's exact timings, the peninsula viewpoints, the honest weather assessment, and why 97% is still not totality.

The timeline

When the eclipse happens

~18:13 ISTPartial begins — first "bite" out of the Sun

~19:12 ISTPartial — ~1h 54m of partial eclipse. Glasses off only if total.

~21:09 ISTPartial ends ~20:07 IST

The partial eclipse runs from about 18:13 to 20:07 IST, with maximum coverage of 97.0% at around 19:12. The whole eclipse finishes before sunset at 21:09 IST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Where to set up

The best places to watch

Dingle peninsula and Slea Head

Headland · Atlantic

Ireland's most westerly views

The road around Slea Head gives unbroken Atlantic horizons and some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Europe — ideal for a low western Sun.

Valentia Island and the Skellig coast

Island · open ocean

Wide sea horizon

Valentia and the surrounding coast look out over open ocean toward the Skelligs, with excellent dark-sky credentials and unobstructed views.

Rossbeigh and Inch Strand

Beach · vast

Flat, wide, unobstructed

The great strands of Dingle Bay give enormous flat beaches with completely open western outlooks and room for any number of people.

Tralee and the town approaches

Town · accessible

Deepest coverage, easy access

Tralee records Ireland's deepest coverage and has the practical advantages of a town — worth knowing if you would rather not drive the peninsulas on eclipse evening.

Killarney National Park heights

Elevated · inland

Height and a weather alternative

The higher ground inland offers a different weather draw from the exposed coast, which can matter on a cloudy evening.

Local astronomy societies and science centres often organise safe public viewing with filtered telescopes — worth checking closer to the date.

Plan your trip

Where to stay near the eclipse

Accommodation around the viewing area for eclipse night (11–13 Aug 2026). Compare hotels and rentals live on the map below.

The weather call

Will the sky be clear?

Kerry has the best numbers in Ireland: ~97% coverage, the Sun 16.5° up, and open Atlantic horizons from every westward-facing headland.

It is also among the wettest and cloudiest corners of Ireland.

Mobility across the peninsulas is the practical safeguard.

Plan the day

Your eclipse-day checklist

Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — one pair per person
Glasses stay ON for the entire eclipse — there is no safe moment here
A reasonable view west — the Sun is ~16° up, so gaps in cloud are enough
Arrive before 18:13 to catch first contact

Check the cloud forecast in the final 48 hours
Never look through a camera, phone or binoculars without a proper solar filter
Pinhole projection is a safe way for groups to watch together
If you want totality, it is northern Spain — not here

Watch it safely

However you’re watching, watch it safely

Every Absolute Eclipse product is independently certified and made in the EU. There’s no safe moment to look unaided here — keep certified eyewear on the entire time.

ISO 12312-2 certified
CE · EU 2016/425 PPE
Made & shipped in the EU

Kerry (Tralee) eclipse FAQ

Will Kerry see a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026?

No. Kerry is outside the path of totality and sees a partial eclipse, with about 97.0% of the Sun covered at maximum. That is a striking sight through eclipse glasses, but it is not totality — the corona does not appear, the sky does not go dark, and there is no moment when it is safe to look without protection. The path of totality crosses northern Spain.

What time is the eclipse in Kerry?

The partial phase begins at about 18:13 IST and maximum — 97.0% coverage — comes at roughly 19:12 IST. The whole eclipse finishes before sunset at 21:09 IST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Do I need eclipse glasses in Kerry?

Yes, for the entire eclipse without exception. This is the most important difference from a total eclipse: because the Sun is never fully covered, there is never a safe moment to look with the naked eye. Even at 97.0% coverage the remaining sliver is dangerously bright. Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE glasses stay on from start to finish.

Where should I watch from in Kerry?

With the Sun about 16° above the horizon at maximum, you have some flexibility — a break in the cloud matters more than a perfect horizon. Higher, open ground still gives the best view.

Kerry gets 97% — is that nearly a total eclipse?

No. The remaining 3% of the Sun is still thousands of times brighter than the corona, so the sky stays light, no corona appears, and eclipse glasses must stay on the entire time. It will be a deep, eerie dimming — but totality is a fundamentally different experience, and for that you would need to be in northern Spain.

Will the weather be clear in Kerry on eclipse day?

Ireland in August is cloudy more often than not, and conditions change fast. Mobility and low expectations both help — but the Sun is high enough that a moderate gap in the cloud is all you need.

Keep exploring the path

Nearby regions to watch from

● Partial

Kilder: timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (vejr) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Tidspunkter er lokale (CEST).