It was written in the stars that Meath scientist Sadhbh Leahy would be at the forefront last week's solar eclipse coverage

A YOUNG woman from Hurdlestown whose father abandoned an eclipse expedition to rush home for her birth has now found herself at the forefront of Ireland's latest celestial event.

Sadhbh Leahy from just outside Kells was born the day before Ireland's 1999 solar eclipse. Almost 27 years later, she has been helping audiences understand this week's eclipse through her role at Dunsink Observatory.

“He had to rush back to Drogheda because I wanted to be born,” Sadhbh laughed.

Her father was the only member of his eclipse group to see the event, after the others were left under cloudy skies in Cork.

From rural Meath to the stars, it seems the planets really did align for Sadhbh!

READ THE FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S PAPER!