IRELAND’S MAGICAL COASTLINE SHOWCASED AT LOVE YOUR COAST PHOTOGRAHY AWARDS  

Clean Coasts’ Love Your Coast photography competition winners have been announced, showcasing the beauty of the Irish coastal landscape, heritage, people, wildlife and underwater scenery in 50 beautiful images. 

18th October | Today, An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme proudly announced the winning photographers of the 15th edition of the Love Your Coast photography competition, held in Richmond Barracks, Dublin. With a prize fund of €5000, the competition has attracted hundreds of amateur photographers from all around Ireland this year, each with their own unique way of capturing stunning photographs of Ireland’s beautiful coastline. 

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR: William Murphy with his photo ‘An Fear Marbh agus an Fear ag eitilt’, taken at Slea Head Drive, Dingle, Co. Kerry won the overall ‘Photographer of the Year’ title as well as 1st place in the ‘People and the Coast’ category in the Clean Coasts 2024 Love Your Coast photography competition. 

The image displays Inis Tuaisceart Island, also known as the Dead Man or the Sleeping Giant, the northernmost of the famed Blasket Islands, bathed in evening light with a human focal point soaring high in the sky above.  

William said of his photo, “This was an opportunistic shot of a paraglider taking in the sights of the Slea Head Drive, passing by Inishtooskert ‘An Fear Marbh’ while I waited for the famous Dingle light to appear in late July. The previous evening had little to no visibility due to low cloud and rain, so I headed for the Schoolhouse from Ryan’s Daughter to take in sunset in hope of good light there and over Inistooskert, two shots with the one location. What I thought was a photographer heading to the cliffs turned out to be a paraglider who circled the area for a while and allowed me the opportunity to capture An Fear Marbh and a flying man, an Fear ag eitilt, in the one shot.” 

 

 

Winners in other categories included: 

  • Coastal Landscape: John Hooton, ‘Fog on the 3 Sisters’, Clogher Head Dingle Co Kerry 
  • Heritage on the Coast: Joe Silke, ‘Fisherman’s Hut’, Connemara, Galway 
  • Wildlife and the Coast: Lisa Farrell, ‘Peeping Tom’, Whitestrand Beach Miltown Malbay Co.Clare 
  • Underwater: Eabha A. Hughes, ‘Peek-A-Boo!’, Pollock Holes, Kilkee, Co. Clare 

 

In the 15 years since its inception in 2010, the Love Your Coast photography competition has been a celebration of the extraordinary beauty of Ireland’s coastline, that Clean Coasts’ volunteers work diligently to protect. 

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is proud to support An Taisce’s ‘Clean Coasts Programme’, in its enthusiastic engagement with marine communities in relation to marine litter and in raising public awareness and influencing positive behaviour among civil society. 

Clean Coasts is also sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority. Initiatives from associated Clean Coasts groups and the Green Coast Awards act as custodians for Ireland’s beaches, seas, and marine life, to maintain that they are managed appropriately and that they are litter and pollution free for our visitors to enjoy! 

An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme Manager, Bronagh Moore said “ The Love Your Coast photography competition is one of the highlights of An Taisce’s Clean Coasts calendar. It is a wonderful reminder of why the work we do with communities to help protect and care for Ireland’s waterways, coastline, seas, ocean and marine life, is so important. Seeing the beauty of our coastline captured in these photographs, you can’t help but feel inspired and driven to do everything you possibly can to protect and care for our marine environment. Knowing we are supporting over 2,000 volunteer groups who dedicate their time to keeping our coastline and ocean litter free is hugely rewarding for our team on the ground. We’d encourage everyone to take the time to really enjoy all of these wonderful photos, be inspired by their beauty, and consider volunteering with a local Clean Coast Group. 

The Love Your Coast photography competition stands as a testament to Ireland’s coastal beauty and character, as captured through the lens of talented photographers who take part in the competition year after year. Clean Coasts wants to congratulate each of the winning and shortlisted photographers and thank them for being part of this year’s competition.  

The 50 photographs will be on display in Richmond Barracks, Dublin 8 from 10:00 – 14:00 on Friday 18th October and is open to the public to attend. This is a free event. Members of the Clean Coasts team will also be on hand to chat about the work they do and to answer any questions. 

 

Images can be found here: https://cleancoasts.exposure.co/love-your-coast-2024-1