EXHIBITION: Former Conservation Ranger Peter O'Toole will hold his first photo exhibition 'Killarney National Park - A Ranger's View' tomorrow (Saturday) evening in Killarney House and Gardens. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

With thousands of photos showing Killarney National Park’s natural beauty – it was hard to whittle it down to 27 for a unique exhibition taking place tomorrow evening (Saturday).

Former Conservation Ranger Peter O'Toole, who recently retired after 40 years, will hold his first ever photo exhibition 'Killarney National Park - A Ranger's View' in Killarney House and Gardens.

Over the years Peter has explored and photographed every inch of the Park and now brings his stunning large printed images to life for the public to view.

From his dearly beloved dog Oscar, who accompanied him on all his photographic outings, to Muckross House in the snow and during sunset, Innisfallen, Ross Castle and Ross Island, Yew Woodland on Muckross Peninsula, the upper and lower lakes, O’Sullivan’s Cascade, Cloughfane, Dundag Boathouse and Torc Mountain, Peter has captured it all in beautiful detail.

And although the exhibition, hosted by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, opens at 7pm by Minister Brendan Griffin, it will remain on display for some time to come.

“Initially I put forward a large number of images and it was painstaking picking 20 so we boiled it down to 27,” Peter told the Killarney Advertiser.

“I’ve covered every inch of the Park. Since I took up photography I never took any photos outside of the Park and I don’t intend to either.”

He added that he could photograph different parts of the Park over and over again and each time it would look different.

“I mostly go on my own, it’s that sense of tranquillity and you don’t know what’s going to come. I’m looking forward to the next 20 years of clicking the camera. It’s like a new adventure every time.”