Limerick man selected for prestigious competition for 'once in a lifetime' photograph

A LIMERICK’S MAN PHOTO has been selected to be showcased as part of a prestigious competition.

With his picture Aurora over Poulnabrone, Alan Hartigan from Corbally, was selected to be showcased as part of Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition.

Aurora over Poulnabrone features the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a large dolmen located in the Burren, Co Clare, with the aurora borealis on display.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the photographer to capture this shot and was taken in May 2024 when the Northern Lights were visible right across Ireland.

 Mr. Hartigan’s image will be on display at DIAS headquarters at 10 Burlington Road, Dublin, from Friday, 26^th July. The 23 top-rated images from the competition will be displayed alongside Mr. Hartigan’s. The exhibition is free to attend.

The winners were selected by a judging panel following a meticulous judging process of over 200 entries.

READ MORE: Mediaeval magic awaits as Limerick castle gates open to all for one day only

Commenting on the success of the competition, Dr Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS said: “I would like to extend my congratulations to the winners of the competition on their spellbinding entries. Each year I am blown away by the talent and creativity of astrophotographers in Ireland. What is most important is that the images are a window into what is happening in our universe, and they can contribute to our understanding of the night sky."