A partial solar eclipse took place across the west coast of Ireland around 8pm tonight with visibility poor in some areas due to cloud cover.
However the clouds parted on the panoramic Sky Road in Clifden Co Galway to the delight of the dozens of spectators who gathered to witness the event.
Astronomy Ireland said the further west in Galway would be one of the best places to view the event and as the sun began to set on the horizon, people gasped and squealed in delight as they witnessed the rare partial eclipse.
Many enthusiastic 'eclipse chasers' had brought along protective welders glass to watch the moon begin passing in front of the sun. They heeded warnings not to look at the sun with the naked eye.
Little Sky Welby explained that the "moon was taking a bite out of the sun".
Expectations were managed earlier in the day with weather forecasts predicting cloud cover and poor visibility so for people like Graham Sales from the Connemara Astronomy Club, this was truly a celestial moment.
"It was a wonderful experience and so amazing to witness the clouds part and reveal the moon moving across the sun. We had a great vantage point on Sky Road and none of us will ever forget this experience. Great memories were made tonight," Mr Sales said.
Alice Coyle lives locally and took her children along.
"We were finishing dinner and I said c'mon let's go see the eclipse . It was beyond our wildest expectations and such a wow moment. The kids will never forget this experience"
Earlier Maeve O'Connor parked up her van with her dog Cara and set up her tripod early to be ready to capture the moment if it came
"I live on the Sky Road and I'm a photographer and I didn't want to miss this once in a lifetime event from my perspective. Clifden is a spectacular location and we've just been privileged to come along and see one of nature's great delights."
Meanwhile, tens of millions of people in the US witnessed a total eclipse of the sun.
