Main image is a light pollution map of Counties Cork and Kerry and part of Waterford and Tipperary. More light pollution maps available here. The link enables one to select various maps, including the satellite observations (called VIIRS in the overlay ─ see menu at top right hand corner). Prof Brian Espey (photo) cautions that these should be taken with a certain amount of salt, but they do give a good indication of the general trend if different years are compared.
Prof Espey (small photo) is chair of Dark Sky Ireland which campaigns to halt and reverse the progressive light pollution of our night skies.
The last few generations of city dwellers are the first in human history to be denied a sight of the starry heavens. But there are other consequences of light pollution. It adversely affects the environment, the health of humans and wild animals, biodiversity, and (through energy waste) the climate.
Brian Espey is Associate Professor of Physics at Trinity College Dublin. He gave a lecture to Cork Astronomy Club on 15th April 2024 with the title “Fighting to improve Ireland’s night skies”.