[Norman McCloskey/Facebook]

KENMARE PHOTOGRAPHER NORMAN McCloskey must have been the only person on the country who wasn’t out taking pictures of fallen trees and breaking waves during the recent spate of bad weather.

“I gave the storms a miss,” he says.

This week’s been great though. You haven’t really been able to go out at night here for the last two months.

McCloskey was back out in the countryside this week though — making the most of the spring-like weather and stunningly clear skies. The above photo of the starscape over the rolling peaks of the McGillycuddy’s Reeks was taken with an 8 second exposure on Monday night.

He says it was taken “not too late — and the half moon directly behind me was enough to light up the low clouds and the Reeks and yet allow the stars to come through”.

Parts of Kerry were recently designated a ‘Dark Sky Reserve’. It’s hoped the award will help boost ‘astro-tourism’ in the area, encouraging amateur astronomers and photographers to head to the county and engage in some star-gazing of their own.

Read: Astro-tourism: Kerry designated as stargazing reserve

Column: Stargazing for beginners – get the most out of these dark winter nights >