What appeared above Dublin was not a celestial spectacle
Last night, a reddish-pink glow hovered over Dublin Airport, prompting questions about the Northern Lights. In social media circles, it sparked debates about whether a true aurora was lighting up the Irish sky. The evidence, however, points to a very terrestrial source: greenhouse lighting used by a nearby strawberry operation.
The real source: greenhouse illumination powering strawberries
The glow originates from the glasshouses owned by Keelings, located just north of the airport near Kilbrook. Keelings operates a large facility built in 2009—a 50,000 square metre glasshouse designed to boost production of Irish strawberries, along with blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. The pink light you saw is part of a lighting system designed to accelerate plant growth, particularly during overcast or winter months when daylight is scarce.
A familiar sight for locals, misread from the ground
Keelings’ greenhouse lighting is a common feature in the area. When viewed from a distance on hazy or cloudy nights, the glow can appear to spill into the lower clouds, creating a striking, otherworldly effect. In this case, observers in Dublin described a bright, pinkish hue under a cloudy sky, just as a camera might capture the scene on a still night. Yet such lighting is not unusual for well-lit agricultural facilities near major airports.
What the experts say
Meteorologist inquiries about auroras in Dublin have a history. Alan Reilly of Carlow Weather noted that while the Northern Lights do occasionally appear over Dublin, they never look like the pink glow beneath clouds. “The Northern Lights do appear over Dublin sometimes, we’ve had a few good displays,” he said, but emphasized that those displays would not be so bright, nor would they be visible beneath cloud cover with such intensity. His takeaway: this was a misinterpretation born of a bright, artificial light source rather than a natural phenomenon.
Why people might confuse it with the aurora
Several factors contribute to the misidentification. The glow was unusually vivid, and it occurred at dusk when the sky still carried some color. The site’s proximity to Dublin Airport adds a dramatic backdrop. On social platforms, people often share striking, unusual lights as potential auroras; without a scientific explanation, the imagination can run toward celestial events that seem out of reach in Ireland. But in this instance, the science—and the geography—point in another direction.
Impact and implications
There are no safety concerns associated with the glow itself. The incident highlights how agricultural infrastructure can influence night skies, especially in urban-adjacent areas. It also serves as a reminder of the value of expert input when the public encounters unusual atmospheric phenomena. For residents and visitors, the takeaway is to look for verifiable sources—like nearby facilities—before assigning dramatic causes to natural-looking events.
Bottom line: Aurora not, Aurora Berryalis yes
So, while the night sky over Dublin offered a pretty pink glow, it wasn’t the Northern Lights. The site’s greenhouse lamps—part of Keelings’ strawberry production—produced what some dubbed the Aurora Berryalis. It’s a clever pun for a practical, productive agricultural setup that keeps fresh fruit on Irish tables year-round.
Keelings has been contacted for comment to provide official confirmation of the lighting protocols. In the meantime, residents can enjoy a scientifically explained explanation for a striking nocturnal display that turned out to be a near-miss for the aurora, and a reminder of the interesting ways science intersects with everyday life.
