Ireland gets first Dark Sky Reserve "The night sky has captivated the people of Ireland for millennia," it sad. Nearly 6,000 years ago, the Neolithic inhabitants of the Iveragh Peninsula built stone monuments incorporating alignments to track cycles of the sun, moon and stars. Those behind the campaign hope that the success of their application will encourage more stargazers to the region. Julie Ormonde orchestrated the 148-page application on behalf of the Kerry Dark Sky Group. Inspired by the success of Galloway Forest Park - which was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2009 - she believed Kerry had the same potential. She said: "One and a half million tourists passed through the ring of Kerry last year - 'passing through' being the key phrase. What they don't realise is they miss half the attraction. Come the night-time and there's a whole different side that comes out. We hope this will encourage people to spend at least one night in the area. As well as protecting the area from light pollution, the area's Reserve status may attract funding for observatories and eventually a planetarium, Ms Ormonde added. There are two British International Dark Sky Reserves: the Brecon Beacon National Park and Exmoor National Park, which both have silver tier status. International Dark Sky Parks and Reserves: a short guide What is a Dark Sky Reserve? This is often a combination of public and private land with "exceptional or distinguished" quality of starry skies. It is formed through a partnership of land owners and administrators who commit to protecting the visibility of the night skies with regulation, formal agreement and long-term planning. It consists of a "core area" and a peripheral area that also supports the protection of the dark sky. Where are they? There are currently seven, including the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, Mont Mégantic (Quebec, Canada), Exmoor National Park (UK), Aoraki Mackenzie (New Zealand), Brecon Beacon (Wales), Pic du Midi (France). More information: www.darksky.org/night-sky-conservation/87-international-dark-sky-reserves What is the difference between them and Dark Sky Parks? The Dark Sky Parks are just public areas. There are 13 in total, including two in Britain: Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water Forest Park, and Galloway Forest Park. More information: www.darksky.org/night-sky-conservation/dark-sky-parks Britain's best stargazing locations We round up the best places in Britain to see the night skies