A photographer from Waterford has been selected as one of the winners of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies’ astrophotography competition, ‘Reach for the Stars’.
Brian O’Halloran of Annestown, Co. Waterford for his image Comet Tsuchinshan ATLAS, In All Its Glory. The image taken in Dunabrattin, Co. Waterford, captured the Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS as it passed perihelion in our sky. The judges on this entry, commended the clarity and purity of the Comet within the image.
The 2025 competition saw more than 170 entries from photographers across Ireland with photos taken between 26 April 2024 and 02 June 2025.
Commenting on this year’s competition, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: “The Reach for the Stars competition continues to reveal the incredible talent and dedication of Ireland’s astrophotographers. These images don’t just showcase technical skill, they allow us to see the universe from new perspectives and inspire a deeper curiosity about our night sky.”
The judging panel included: Professor Peter Gallagher, Head of Astrophysics at DIAS; Michael McCreary, President of the Irish Astronomical Society; Dr Lisa McNamee co-founder Space Medicine Ireland and Alan Betson, Irish Times photographer and multiple winner of the Press Photographer of the Year award.
Head of Astrophysics at DIAS and Chair of the judging panel, Professor Peter Gallagher said, “Now in its fifth year, the DIAS Reach for the Stars competition has reached new heights. It is exciting to see the competition grow. The rare appearances of the Aurora Borealis in Ireland’s skies have sparked fresh curiosity, encouraging more people to get involved in astrophotography. The talent and technical skill shown in each of the shortlisted entries is extraordinary, making the judges’ task of selecting winners more challenging than ever before.”
