Skywatchers across the island of Ireland are preparing for a rare double celestial event on 12 August 2026, when a deep partial solar eclipse in the early evening will be followed hours later by the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. More than 90% of the sun is expected to be obscured across Ireland, making it the most significant solar eclipse visible from the island until September 2090, while those travelling abroad, particularly to Spain, will witness a total eclipse.
The same event has been drawing attention elsewhere in the British Isles, with earlier coverage detailing the best places and times to watch the rare sky show across the UK, a near-total eclipse expected on the Isle of Man, and the West Country's biggest eclipse since 1999. Northern Spain is also expected to see full totality, with large crowds gathering to watch, as described in coverage of the UK's deepest partial eclipse since 1999.
How much of the sun will be blocked?
The extent of the eclipse will vary by location, with the deepest coverage expected along the southwest coast. At its peak, Belfast will see 93.05% of the sun covered, Londonderry will reach 93.77%, and Cork will see 96.43% obscured. Skellig Michael, off the County Kerry coast, is expected to have the most dramatic view on the island, with around 98.01% of the sun blocked out.
According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the moon is expected to cover between 90% and 96% of the sun across the UK and Ireland as a whole, with the eclipse reaching its maximum at different times between roughly 7:05pm and 7:16pm depending on location. Separately, ESERO Ireland's eclipse guide describes the event as effectively a near-total solar eclipse for parts of the southwest, with coverage reaching up to 97% in areas stretching from Cork to Kerry.
What will it look like from the ground?
The event is expected to begin at approximately 18:10 BST, although exact timings will differ slightly depending on location. Dr Rok Nežič from Armagh Observatory and Planetarium said the change in light would be noticeable even without a total eclipse.
"It should get noticeably darker," according to Dr Rok Nežič from Armagh Observatory and Planetarium.
"Even though more than 90% of the sun will be covered, it will still be kind of bright, but it should seem like you're under some thick cloud. It won't be as extreme or as spectacular as a solar eclipse, but it will still be noticeable."
David Moore, editor of Astronomy Ireland Magazine, said the eclipse would be a particularly rare occurrence for the region.
"Not only is it the first total eclipse visible from western Europe since 1999, but just a few hours later it's one of the best meteor showers the year – as if to celebrate the event with celestial fireworks," according to David Moore, Editor of Astronomy Ireland Magazine.
"And then in two weeks we have a lunar eclipse visible, so August is an incredible month."
According to RTÉ, this will be the deepest eclipse seen from the UK and Ireland since August 1999, and no event of comparable scale will be visible from the region again until 2090. The Irish Times has similarly noted that the upcoming eclipse is the first of its kind visible in Ireland since August 1999, when around 95% of the sun was covered, a figure only slightly lower than what is forecast this time.
How should I watch the eclipse?
Astronomers have warned people never to look directly at the sun during a partial eclipse. Even when most of the star is covered, the section that remains visible is still bright enough to cause serious eye damage.
"The problem is that our retinas don't have pain receptors, so you won't know that you're damaging your eyes," Nežič added.
Viewers are advised to use certified eclipse glasses for direct naked-eye viewing, but should not use them while looking through binoculars or a telescope, as the concentrated light can still cause harm. Safe alternatives include projecting an image of the sun onto a white card using a telescope, a homemade cereal box pinhole viewer, or even an ordinary kitchen colander. Pointing an unfiltered smartphone or digital camera directly at the sun has also been discouraged, as the intense light risks damaging the camera's sensor.
"The only thing you can look at with the naked eye is a total solar eclipse and there hasn't been one of those on Irish soil since 1724, and there won't be another one visible until September 2090," added Astronomy Ireland's David Moore.
What about the Perseid meteor shower?
Several hours after the eclipse fades, the Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak overnight into Thursday. A new moon means moonlight should not interfere with visibility, offering favourable viewing conditions if skies remain clear.
The Perseids are created by tiny fragments of dust and rock left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle. As these particles enter Earth's atmosphere at high speed, they heat the surrounding air and produce brief streaks of light across the sky. Although meteors can appear in any part of the sky, their paths appear to trace back to the constellation Perseus, which rises in the north-east and climbs higher as the night progresses. Observers are advised to find a dark location away from streetlights and allow at least ten minutes for their eyes to adjust. No telescope or binoculars are required, and under ideal conditions, viewers could see around 100 meteors an hour.
When can you view it?
Timings vary by location. In Northern Ireland, Armagh will see the eclipse start at 18:10, peak at 19:08 and end at 20:03, with 93.66% coverage; Belfast follows the same start, peak and end times with 93.05% coverage; Derry starts at 18:09, peaks at 19:07 and ends at 20:02 with 93.77% coverage; and Omagh starts at 18:10, peaks at 19:08 and ends at 20:03 with 93.97% coverage.
In the Republic of Ireland, Cork will see the eclipse start at 18:15, peak at 19:13 and end at 20:08, with 96.43% coverage; Dublin starts at 18:12, peaks at 19:10 and ends at 20:05 with 93.99% coverage; Galway starts at 18:12, peaks at 19:10 and ends at 20:06 with 95.95% coverage; Limerick starts at 18:13, peaks at 19:12 and ends at 20:07 with 96.03% coverage; and Skellig Michael starts at 18:14, peaks at 19:13 and ends at 20:09 with 98.01% coverage.
What happens next?
According to NASA's eclipse schedule, the partial eclipse in Dublin will begin at 6:12pm, reach its maximum at 7:10pm and end at 8:05pm, placing coverage there at around 94%, broadly consistent with the local timings given above. Separately, Timeanddate reports that the partial eclipse across Ireland will conclude at approximately 8:09pm Irish Standard Time overall, with Cork ending at 8:08pm and Dublin at 8:05pm. Two weeks after the eclipse, a lunar eclipse is also expected to be visible, adding to what astronomers are describing as an unusually active month for skywatchers.
Key Facts
- A deep partial solar eclipse and the Perseid meteor shower peak both occur on 12 August 2026, with the eclipse beginning around 18:10 BST.
- Skellig Michael, off the County Kerry coast, is expected to see the deepest coverage in Ireland, at around 98.01%.
- It is the most significant solar eclipse visible from the island of Ireland since 1999 and the last of its scale until September 2090, according to Astronomy Ireland and RTÉ.
- Certified eclipse glasses, pinhole viewers or projection methods are recommended; looking directly at the sun, even through binoculars with glasses on, can damage the eyes.
- Under ideal dark-sky conditions, the Perseid meteor shower could produce around 100 meteors an hour overnight into Thursday.
