Killarney

By Michelle Crean
<h3>It was a wow moment for one well-known local photographer when he captured what was the shot of a lifetime &#8211; the largest deer ever found in the National Park.</h3>
Former conservation ranger Peter O&#8217;Toole captured the grand master stag last Thursday morning in a rural part of the park.
&#8220;When I photographed this magnificent native red deer stag early I knew that he was something special,&#8221; Peter told the Killarney Advertiser.
&#8220;I have been around and worked with native red deer as a conservation ranger in Killarney National Park for many years, but I can honestly say that this stag is the largest I have ever seen.&#8221;
Peter said the deer has 21 points on his antlers and is larger in body size compared to the usual mature native stag who typically has&nbsp;between 12 and 14 points.
&#8220;A master stag is a stag that is dominant during the mating season (rut), he will ward off all challengers and will successfully mate with hinds. I gave this magnificent specimen the title of Grand Master as he has no equal in the wild native red deer population in Killarney National Park.&#8221;

Killarney's "grand master" spotted in National Park

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