Spectacular Northern Lights put on great display across Laois

The spectacular Northern Lights were visible in Laois on Friday night, as the aurora borealis put on a stunning display across the country. 

Stargazers were thrilled to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon, which has been accentuated by a “rare” solar storm.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US said it is monitoring the sun following a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that began on Wednesday.

As a result, the NOAA has issued a rare geomagnetic storm watch, the first in nearly two decades, which will lead to the Northern Lights or aurora borealis being visible across the world, including in Ireland.

According to Met Éireann, the Northern Lights are best observed in locations with very small amounts of light pollution. There is a good chance that the aurora may be visible again on Saturday night so keep a close watch. 

Did you see the Northern Lights in your area? Send us on your photos by emailing news@leinsterexpress.ie