The Northern Lights were visible across the country last night, with red and green hues illuminating the night sky.
The displays were widespread, with social media users sharing photos of the phenomenon from all corners of the island.
Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles.
A view of the aurora borealis over Courtmacsherry in Co Cork (Photo: Alan Mac Cárthaigh)
(Photo: Alan Mac Cárthaigh)
As they collide, light is emitted at various wavelengths, creating colourful displays in the sky.
The auroras, which are most commonly seen over high polar latitudes but can spread south, are chiefly influenced by geomagnetic storms which originate from activity on the sun.
Just keeps going and these are just holding phone in long exposure mode of 3 seconds. Amazing display of Northern Lights captured in Carlow. pic.twitter.com/ws2JQWUcs3
— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) November 12, 2025
The US Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G4 severe geomagnetic storm watch in response to potential geomagnetic storm effects related to coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that have erupted from the sun over the past several days.
The Northern Lights seen over Oran, Roscommon (Photo: Frieda Lawless)
The displays are influenced by geomagnetic storms from solar activity
These CME events began on Sunday and continued until this morning with aurora displays also observed across North America.
The aurora borealis is seen regularly in Irish skies, with significant displays observed earlier this year.