Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-08-31

Sun Path: Kilkenny, Ireland

How to research sun path for a specific site in Kilkenny — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

Last updated August 31, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames IE dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/IE.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2963398). Regulatory starting point: [Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the local building-control authority](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/building-standards/). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.

Direct answer

For Kilkenny at 52.6542, -7.2522, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 60.8° at the June solstice, 37.3° at an equinox and 13.9° at the December solstice. Refine these geometry checks with the project date, civil time, facade azimuth, terrain and local horizon. The reproducible location record is GeoNames ID 2963398 in administrative area L, at 52.6542, -7.2522; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 60.8° at the June solstice, 37.3° at an equinox and 13.9° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 7.4 hours in December to 16.6 hours in June; this excludes atmospheric refraction, terrain and obstruction effects. The cited national authority is a discovery starting point; current local documents and a named qualified reviewer control project use of this sun path record.

Prepared by Harth · Prepared from the cited location and country sources; local project inputs remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.

What must be verified for Kilkenny?

Kilkenny is represented here at approximately 52.6542, -7.2522 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.

How should sun path be established?

  1. Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
  2. Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
  3. Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
  4. Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
  5. Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
InputProject-specific evidenceQA question
Sitesurveyed coordinates, elevation and horizonDoes the point represent the building?
Weather/solar methodnamed dataset, algorithm, period and time basisAre station, time zone and units explicit?
Design scenariocurrent and future scenario agreed by the teamIs an average being mistaken for an extreme?
Complianceadopted local document and editionWas applicability confirmed with the authority?

What are the limits of this worksheet?

This sun-path-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Kilkenny site remain authoritative.

Kilkenny monthly solar geometry check for sun path

Representative dateDeclinationSolar-noon altitudeGeometric daylightNoon shadow / height
21 January-20.14°17.21°8.170 h3.229
21 February-11.23°26.12°9.990 h2.039
21 March-0.40°36.94°11.929 h1.330
21 April+11.58°48.92°14.077 h0.872
21 May+20.14°57.48°15.830 h0.637
21 June+23.45°60.80°16.619 h0.559
21 July+20.44°57.79°15.899 h0.630
21 August+11.75°49.10°14.110 h0.866
21 September-0.20°37.14°11.965 h1.320
21 October-11.75°25.59°9.890 h2.088
21 November-20.44°16.90°8.101 h3.290
21 December-23.45°13.90°7.381 h4.042

Kilkenny solar-geometry fingerprint at 52.6542, -7.2522

  • Kilkenny, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 17.21°, zenith 72.79°, geometric daylight 8.170 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 3.229.
  • Kilkenny, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 26.12°, zenith 63.88°, geometric daylight 9.990 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.039.
  • Kilkenny, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 36.94°, zenith 53.06°, geometric daylight 11.929 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.330.
  • Kilkenny, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 48.92°, zenith 41.08°, geometric daylight 14.077 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.872.
  • Kilkenny, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 57.48°, zenith 32.52°, geometric daylight 15.830 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.637.
  • Kilkenny, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 60.80°, zenith 29.20°, geometric daylight 16.619 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.559.
  • Kilkenny, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 57.79°, zenith 32.21°, geometric daylight 15.899 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.630.
  • Kilkenny, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 49.10°, zenith 40.90°, geometric daylight 14.110 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.866.
  • Kilkenny, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 37.14°, zenith 52.86°, geometric daylight 11.965 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.320.
  • Kilkenny, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 25.59°, zenith 64.41°, geometric daylight 9.890 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.088.
  • Kilkenny, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 16.90°, zenith 73.10°, geometric daylight 8.101 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 3.290.
  • Kilkenny, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 13.90°, zenith 76.10°, geometric daylight 7.381 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 4.042.

Harth computed the Kilkenny fingerprint for latitude 52.6542° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude -7.2522° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See NOAA's solar calculation details. Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames IE dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2963398). Regulatory starting point: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the local building-control authority. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: NOAA Solar Calculation Details; the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.

Frequently asked questions

What does the sun path record for Kilkenny establish?

The sun path record for Kilkenny establishes a reproducible discovery point at 52.6542, -7.2522 (GeoNames ID 2963398, administrative area L) and a Ireland source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.

What must be replaced before using this sun path workflow for a project in Kilkenny?

For the sun path record in Kilkenny, replace the 52.6542, -7.2522 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under Building Regulations and Technical Guidance Documents. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.

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