Mulranny, in the shadow of the Nephin Beg Mountains on the north shore of Clew Bay, is a hill-walker’s paradise.

Two parts of Ireland have official designation as dark sky reserves and are being marketed to star-gazing tourists, writes Donal Hickey

I love living in Ireland. This may come across as a somewhat blousy assertion and especially in a column that strongly defends tooth and claw capitalism as a force for progress in society.

AS I STAND at the Mulranny Park Hotel in Co Mayo on day one of a weekend trip, my eye races over the empty spaces, trying to comprehend the beauty of the interlocking mountains, the sweep of the sea, the sense of boundless landscape.

MEMBERS of the public are invited to submit sightings of mammals for a survey which will run until the end of 2015.