What to know about seeing the northern lights on the equinox from Ireland

While there’s never any guarantee you’ll see the northern lights, the coming equinox – on September 23 – could give you a better chance than normal of witnessing it

September 23 could be a good opportunity to see the northern lights (Astronomy Ireland/PA)

You don’t have to travel to Iceland or Alaska to see one of the most stunning natural displays in the world – the northern lights set the night sky aglow in many locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Although clouds can often obscure the breathtaking green, and sometimes pink, blue and purple aurora borealis, on a clear night when there’s been the necessary solar activity to create the lights, they can be seen from the north coast of Northern Ireland and parts of the Antrim coast, to Co Mayo on the west coast of Ireland, Ashbourne in Co Meath, and – if it’s a strong, vivid display – the Dublin area.