The Cliffs of Moher at sunset — the 12 August 2026 partial solar eclipse in Ireland

Pilnīgs Saules aptumsums · 12. augusts 2026

Kur skatīties 2026. gada Saules aptumsumu Īrijā

Ireland sees a deep partial eclipse on the evening of 12 August 2026 — about 94% in Dublin, 93% in Belfast and up to ~96% in Cork and the south-west. The Sun stays up; it isn't totality, which lies south over Spain.

Partial eclipse
Maximum~19:10 ISTMaximum · 12 Aug 2026 (varies by location)
Sun altitude~12–17°low in the west, near sunset
Coverageup to ~96%Cork/SW highest; ~94% Dublin; ~93% Belfast
Clear-sky odds Risky · ≈40%Atlantic Ireland in August means real cloud risk — there's no controlling it. Watch the forecast and be ready to move toward any clear patch on the day.
Counting down to totality
—days —hrs —min —sec

Ireland gets one of the best partials in Europe on 12 August 2026 — about 94% of the Sun covered in Dublin, 93% in Belfast, and up to roughly 96% in Cork and the south-west. The Sun stays a good height above the horizon, making this an accessible evening eclipse from almost anywhere with a clear south-western view. The catch — as ever in Ireland — is the weather. It isn't totality, though: for the Sun to vanish completely you'd travel south to Spain.

Below: how deep the partial runs across Ireland, the best places to watch, and how to do it safely.

The timeline

When the eclipse happens

~18:10 ISTPartial begins — first "bite" out of the Sun
~19:10 ISTPartial. Glasses off only if total.
~20:00Partial ends — the eclipse finishes with the Sun still above the horizon.

The Sun is well above the horizon during the eclipse, so what matters is simply clear sky to the west-south-west. Coverage is deepest in the south and west — Cork sees the most.

Where to set up

The best places to watch

Cork & the south-west

~96%

Deepest in Ireland · Atlantic horizon

Cork, Kerry and the south-west see Ireland's deepest partial — around 96% — with clean Atlantic horizons. Coastal headlands give an open west-south-west view.

Dublin & the east

~94%

The capital · 94% partial

Dublin sees about 94% coverage in the evening sky; the coast at Howth or Killiney and any open western viewpoint give a fine view above the city skyline.

Galway & the west

Deep partial

Wild Atlantic Way · open sea horizon

Galway and the west coast offer a clean Atlantic horizon to the west — superb if the cloud cooperates. The Wild Atlantic Way has open headlands the whole way down.

Belfast & Northern Ireland

~93%

The north · 93% partial

Belfast sees about 93%, with the Causeway Coast and the Antrim hills offering open western skies for the low evening Sun.

Killarney & Kerry

Deep partial

South-west · mountains + coast

Kerry sits in the deepest-coverage south-west, with mountains and an Atlantic coast for dramatic west-facing viewpoints.

Coverage deepens to the south and west — Cork (~96%) leads, with Dublin (~94%), Belfast (~93%) and the whole island above 90%.

The weather call

Will the sky be clear?

There's no dressing it up: an Irish August evening can be clear or thoroughly cloudy, and that's the main thing standing between you and a great view.

Happily the Sun is well up during the eclipse, so low-horizon haze isn't the issue it is further south — you just need a clear patch of west-south-west sky.

Stay flexible: pick an open western viewpoint and be ready to chase a gap in the cloud if the forecast turns.

The south and west — Cork, Kerry — see the deepest eclipse and a clean Atlantic horizon. For genuine totality, the trip is south to Spain.

Plan the day

Your eclipse-day checklist

  • Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — on the whole time (a partial is never safe unaided).
  • A clear view to the west-south-west — the Sun is well up, not on the horizon.
  • The south-west (Cork, Kerry) sees the most; 90%+ almost everywhere.
  • Have a backup location ready in case of cloud.
  • A solar filter on any camera or phone for the whole partial.
  • No glasses-off moment in Ireland — keep them on throughout.
  • For totality, plan a trip south to Spain.
  • Watch the cloud forecast and be ready to move.

⚠ Never look without certified glasses

There is no safe moment to look unaided here — keep certified glasses on for the entire eclipse. Ordinary sunglasses do nothing.

Shop ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses →

Quick answers

Ireland eclipse FAQ

Will Ireland see a total solar eclipse in 2026?
No — Ireland sees a deep partial on 12 August 2026, not totality. The path of totality runs far to the south, over northern Spain. But it's a big one: up to about 96% of the Sun covered in the south-west, and over 90% everywhere.
How much of the Sun will be covered in Ireland?
About 94% in Dublin, 93% in Belfast, and up to roughly 96% in Cork and the south-west. The further south and west you are, the deeper the eclipse.
What time is the eclipse in Ireland?
An early-evening event: the partial begins around 18:10 local time, reaches maximum about an hour later (≈19:10), and ends around 20:00, with the Sun still above the horizon.
Where is the best place to watch in Ireland?
Anywhere with a clear west-south-west view. Cork and the south-west see the deepest eclipse and an Atlantic horizon, but over 90% is visible across the whole island — clear sky matters most.
Do I need eclipse glasses in Ireland?
Yes — for the entire eclipse. A partial never fully covers the Sun, so there's no safe moment to look unaided. Use certified ISO 12312-2 glasses throughout, and never look through a camera, phone or binoculars without a solar filter.
Where can I see totality from Ireland?
Travel south to Spain. Ireland is well north of the path; the nearest totality runs across northern Spain, a short flight away. See our Spain guides to plan a totality trip.

Keep exploring the path

Nearby regions to watch from

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Avoti: timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (laikapstākļi) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Laiki ir vietējie (CEST).