Autumn Equinox
Twice a year, an equinox occurs when the sun appears to rise exactly in the east and set exactly in the west. At this moment, day and night are of roughly equal length. This event marks a brief period of ‘balance’ between daylight and darkness in both the spring and autumn. During the September equinox, it moves from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere. The Autumn Equinox occurs in Ireland this year on Wednesday, September 23 at 1:05 AM
Prehistoric people in Ireland demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of astronomy, as evidenced in the monuments they left us with. Some passage tombs have possible equinoctial alignments, including Cairn T at Loughcrew, with some debate as to whether Knowth is similarly aligned.
There is a strong correlation between the autumn equinox and the festival of Michaelmas, a Christian feast day celebrated on September 29th, just a few days after the astronomical event of the equinox, which marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
Day and night are not exactly equal on the equinox, though they are very close to 12 hours long.
The autumnal equinox occurs in September each year, and in the northern hemisphere the date marks the end of summer and beginning of autumn.
The Earth is tilted on its axis. This means that the Sun illuminates the northern or southern However, at two points in the year the Sun will illuminate the northern and southern hemispheres equally. These are known as the equinoxes.
Birthstones
Sapphire is the traditional birthstone for September representing wisdom, loyalty, nobility, and faith. While most famous for its deep blue shade, it also occurs in pink, yellow, green, and purple.
July Buck Moon
Buck Moon
The July full moon known as the Buck Moon occurs on 29 Jul 2026 at 3.30pm. Full moons occur when the moon is on the opposite side of the Sun from the Earth and is illuminated. Summertime Full Moons in the Northern Hemisphere tend to be low in the sky and often look yellow because the reflected light from the moon goes through more of Earth’s atmosphere. It will be visible in the south-southwest.
It will appear as full to the naked eye on both Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29 July nights.
July’s full Moon, also known as the Buck Moon, is the first full Moon of summer in the northern hemisphere. It gets its name from the time of year that male deer, called bucks, begin to grow their antlers.
July Buck Moon
April Pink Moon
Spring’s first full moon is known as the ‘Pink Moon is expected to rise over the Ireland around 9pm on Sunday April 13. A full moon will too bright once it’s high in the sky to observe comfortably, so it’s best to see it is as it rises or sets. April 13’s full moon will not actually be pink but it is called the pink moon.
May Emerald Flower Moon
The full moon of 12 May 2025, 17:55 , also known as the Flower Moon, is a sight to behold. As one of the four lunar events known as the “cross-quarter days,” it marks the midpoint between the spring equinox and summer solstice, and has been celebrated by various cultures throughout history.
Beaver Moon
The largest and brightest supermoon of the year was visible over the last couple of nights.
A supermoon happens when a full moon occurs while the moon is at its closest point to Earth.
The Beaver Moon – a full moon that occurs in November – originates from Native American cultures.
It will be visible until Thursday night 06 Nov 2025
June Strawberry Moon
A full moon on 11 Jun 2025, 08:43 — Strawberry Moon will make the coastline more dangerous with rip currents stronger. Swim within your depth on beaches with lifeguards. The sea still remain cold so be aware. Check www.watersafety.ie/lifeguards/.
When is the next full moon?
Pink Moon – April 13
Flower Moon – May 12
Strawberry Moon – June 11
Buck Moon – July 10
Sturgeon Moon – August 9
Corn/Harvest Moon – September 7
Hunter’s Moon – October 7
Beaver Moon – November 5
Cold Moon – December 4
May
May’s birth flower is the Lily of the Valley.
Lily of the valley is considered the sign of Christ’s second coming.
The power of people to envision a better world was also attributed to the lily of the valley
In Christianity it represents the Second Coming of Christ or Our Lady’s tears
The birthstone for the month of May is the Emerald
It represents love or success.
The emerald has a meaning as a stone that brings luck
Deep green is the most desired colour
A Primrose flower blooms in the early Summer,
They represent youth, new beginnings, new life, or birth
