Ireland looked spectacular under the Northern Lights last night

Pity most of us were sleeping…

The Northern Lights were on display last night across the country and, while most of us were too busy sleeping to catch one of the greatest shows on Earth, some people were out capturing its splendour on camera.

Which is lucky for those of us who missed out.

It seems the whole country was lit up as these amazing photos from everywhere from Cork to Donegal show.

Cork

Ballycotton, taken from Ballynamona Beach by Rónán McLaughlin

Kildare

The view at Carbury Castle taken by Adrian Leech

Cavan

Taken by Michelle Brady

The Northern Lights - or the Aurora Borealis - are the result of collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun's atmosphere. The coulors change depending on the type of particles present colliding.

Dublin

The Aurora in North Dublin taken by Niall Griffin

Donegal

Taken in Glackmore by Bren Whelan

Malin town taken by Bren Whelan

Next time, we're definitely setting the alarm.