Kildare photographers shortlisted for national astrophotography competition
John Walsh - Horsehead & Flame Nebulae - Out of this World
Two Kildare photographers have been shortlisted for a national astrophotography competition.
The beauty and wonder of Ireland’s night sky are taking centre stage as the public are asked to vote for their favourite photo in the 2026 Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition.
The shortlisted images in this year’s competition include two photographers from Kildare, Sallins-based John Walsh with his image 'Horsehead & Flame Nebulae', displaying the silhouette of the Horsehead Nebula set against a sea of red and Leixlip-based Samuel Sheedy with his image 'Cygnus Over St Kevin’s Church', capturing St Kevin’s Church in Glendalough under the Cygnus nebulae.
The competition is organised by the School of Cosmic Physics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) Members of the public are invited to view the shortlisted images and vote for their favourite as part of the Public Choice Award. The full exhibition is available to view online at www.reachforthestars.ie/exhibition where visitors can explore the images before casting their vote. Voting is open until 5pm on 13 July 2026 and is limited to one vote per person, giving everyone an equal chance to support the image that captures their imagination.
The winning photographers in the ‘Out of this World’ and ‘Back on Earth’ categories, as selected by the judging panel, will receive a prize package that includes: publication of their images on the DIAS and The Irish Times websites; passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland – DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, and Birr Castle Demesne; a €500 voucher for photographic equipment; and a digital subscription to The Irish Times.
The winner of the Public Choice category, as voted for by the public, and the winner of the ‘Night Sky in Your Hand’ category will each receive a voucher to the value of €250 for photographic equipment, along with passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland – DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, and Birr Castle Demesne.
Two runner-up prizes from each of the Out of this World and Back on Earth categories will also be awarded vouchers to the value of €250 for photographic equipment and passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland.
