The Dublin Sky’s Mysterious Glow Explained
Yesterday, residents and travelers in Dublin enjoyed a curious sight: a reddish-pink glow lighting up the night sky above Dublin Airport. The phenomenon sparked excitement and a flurry of questions online, with many wondering if the Northern Lights had finally made an appearance over Ireland. The short answer: it wasn’t the Aurora Borealis. The longer explanation points to a very terrestrial source—greenhouse lighting from a nearby farm.
What the Light Really Was
According to meteorologists and local observers, the glow originated from the massive glasshouses operated by Keelings, a strawberry producer located just north of the airport near Kilbrook in Swords. Keelings built a 50,000 square metre glasshouse back in 2009, enabling industrial-scale fruit production. The pinkish hue is a byproduct of the specific grow-light spectrum used to boost strawberry yields during the darker months.
Debunking the Aurora Theory
For some time, Dublin has occasionally seen genuine displays of the Northern Lights, especially on cloud-free nights with favorable solar activity. Yet experts say the recent glow didn’t match the aurora’s typical characteristics. “The Northern Lights do appear over Dublin sometimes, we’ve had a few good displays over the last two years,” explained weather forecaster Alan Reilly of Carlow Weather. “They wouldn’t look like that, and they wouldn’t be underneath the clouds.”
Observations have repeatedly linked the glow to the Keelings glasshouses, a source of occasional public intrigue due to the proximity to Dublin Airport. The glow’s position and coloration were consistent with artificial lighting used to accelerate strawberry production rather than a natural celestial event.
Why Greenhouse Lighting Glows So Brightly
Modern horticultural lighting often uses high-pressure sodium or LED fixtures that emit pink to reddish hues. In a busy greenhouse, these lights are intense and can be seen from several kilometres away, especially on clear or partially cloudy nights. When these lights are angled and reflected off low-lying cloud cover, they can create a dramatic, otherworldly glow. This is precisely what observers over Dublin reported yesterday.
A Quick Look at Keelings’ North Dublin Operations
Keelings operates a significant strawberry production facility at their north Dublin site, where the climate-controlled glasshouse supports year-round fruiting. The company’s farming portfolio has evolved to include strawberries as a primary crop, with a capacity that produces substantial annual yields. While strawberries are the headline crop, the operation also grows berries such as blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, contributing to a robust local food supply.
Public Reactions and What to Take Away
Moments like these illustrate how nearby infrastructure and agricultural technology can intersect with everyday life in surprising ways. For observers who saw the glow, the explanation is a reminder that not every spectacular sky light show is cosmic. It also underscores the importance of consulting local meteorologists and agricultural experts when something unusual appears overhead.
What’s Next for Observers
If you notice a bright glow in the sky, consider checking with local weather services or the nearby facility’s communications for explanations. In this case, the answer was rooted on the ground, in the beams of greenhouse lamps rather than in the heavens above.
Bottom Line
The reddish-pink glow over Dublin Airport was not the Northern Lights but a familiar sight to anyone near Keelings’ Swords glasshouse: industrial greenhouse illumination designed to boost strawberry production. A striking example of how human activity can briefly outshine nature—without venturing into the celestial.
