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Plan and undertake experiments or research in two of the following areas. Show you understand the science behind what you have done. (e) Night sky – identify three constellations and the legends connected with them.

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Instructions

Grainné the Navigator

Grainné Uaile (Grace
O’Malley) was Mayo’s
famous Pirate Queen and
known for her talents at
navigating the islands
and inlets of Clew Bay and
along our wild west coast. At night time, we like to think we
are following in her footsteps when we seek out the North
Star at her former trading post, Burrishoole Friary. From
here, we use it to guide us north into the Dark Sky Park.
Grainné’s steely fortitude and stubbornness is represented
in the night sky by another powerful Queen – Cassiopeia.
She sits on her throne, looking like a giant M in the sky (for
Mayo!) and circumnavigates Polaris, the North Star for all
eternity.

Daithí Bán – the giant in the sky
As we viewed the constellation of Orion, we explore the
legend of Daithí Bán – Mayo’s famous giant who roamed
the Nephin mountains behind Ballycroy. Like Orion, he was
a notorious hunter and whilst he enjoyed stalking deer in
the wooded hills, he loved nothing more than the taste
of fresh salmon and would often wade into the Atlantic
to scoop them up into his giant hands. Daithí Bán’s
adventures came to an abrupt end as he too, like Orion,

Grainné the Navigator
Grainné Uaile (Grace
O’Malley) was Mayo’s
famous Pirate Queen and
known for her talents at
navigating the islands
and inlets of Clew Bay and
along our wild west coast. At night time, we like to think we
are following in her footsteps when we seek out the North
Star at her former trading post, Burrishoole Friary. From
here, we use it to guide us north into the Dark Sky Park.
Grainné’s steely fortitude and stubbornness is represented
in the night sky by another powerful Queen – Cassiopeia.
She sits on her throne, looking like a giant M in the sky (for
Mayo!) and circumnavigates Polaris, the North Star for all
eternity.

Daithí Bán – the giant in the sky
As we viewed the constellation of Orion, we explore the
legend of Daithí Bán – Mayo’s famous giant who roamed
the Nephin mountains behind Ballycroy. Like Orion, he was
a notorious hunter and whilst he enjoyed stalking deer in
the wooded hills, he loved nothing more than the taste
of fresh salmon and would often wade into the Atlantic
to scoop them up into his giant hands. Daithí Bán’s
adventures came to an abrupt end as he too, like Orion,
was tricked to a watery grave. The gods cast his image
into the night skies to be forever preserved – he appears
from winter to spring over Wild Nephin Ballycroy National
Park.

The Dobhar Cù
Following in Daithí
Bán’s footsteps is the
mythological creature
the Dobhar Cú; or Water
Hound. This fierce beast
- half otter, half hound -
was tamed by Daithí Bán
on his expeditions to the
shoreline and continues to follow his master into the night
sky. You can spot the collar on the neck of the hound.it is
known as Sirius (the Dog star), the vbrightest star in the sky
and part of the Canis Major constellation.

Children of Lir
Another classic constellation to look out for is Cygnus, the
Swan. The storytelling significance for Mayo links nicely
with the classic Irish tale “The Children of Lir”. As the story of
the four children, transformed into swans by their wicked
step-mother, weaves its way through time and place
around Ireland, their sweet song calms all those who
hear it. After spending their final 300 years on Inisglora,
an island off the coast of Mayo, they are baptised by St
Patrick before being laid to rest. Their bodies returned
to human form and their souls set free, turning into four
twinkling stars to form the points of that cross in the sky. So,
now you know why this constellation is known as Cygnus
the swan (:-).
Cygnus is best viewed from Summer to Autumn months.
It is easy to find as its cruciform shape, also known as the
Northern Cross, appears to be flying down the middle of
the Milky Way. Cygnus also contains one of the brightest
stars in the night sky – Deneb (part of the Summer Triangle
asterism).

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