A huge thank you to all the photographers who submitted their photos this year, we received over 1,290 wonderful images from all across our beautiful island! Also, a huge thank you to our Judging Panel who had the difficult task of choosing the winning images from a highly impressive pool of submissions.
Each year, An Tasice’s Clean Coast Programmes’ Love Your Coast competition implores photographers to capture and celebrate the distinct beauty of our coastal communities, environments, and waterways. From impressive coastlines, beautiful beaches, striking cliff faces, and meandering rivers, Irelands coastal landscape is full of wonder to behold, as captured by the thousands of images we receive each year.
Now in its 15th edition, the Love Your Coast Awards have been attracting thousands of photographers from across the country each year to highlight the natural beauty of Ireland, its marine life and coastal heritage.
With a prize fund this year of €5000, Love Your Coast offered photographers the opportunity to showcase their talent across five categories. Each category aims to highlight a unique aspect of Irish waterways, from landscapes and heritage to wildlife and communities.
Love Your Coast’s mission extends beyond a photography competition. Our coastal and marine environment form an integral part of Ireland’s identity. Through this competition, we invite people in Ireland to appreciate, celebrate, and safeguard our coast, echoing the dedication of our over 2,000 volunteer groups who work tirelessly to protect our marine environment.
Join us in celebrating the beauty of the Irish coast through the Love Your Coast Photography Competition!
Love Your Coast Competition Categories
This year we have 5 different categories for photographers to enter, please read the descriptions below to make sure you are entering the correct one:
Heritage on the Coast
If there is one thing Ireland is abundantly filled with, it is unquestionably its rich heritage! As an island nation, our history is deeply intertwined with our relationship to the sea, with its roots tracing back 9000 years to the first Stone Age settlements along our coast. These ancient settlers, living off the land, crafted enduring stone walls to protect themselves from storms, many of which still grace our landscapes today. The country is teeming with a wealth of historical and cultural treasures, ranging from majestic castles and serene abbeys to steadfast lighthouses and ancient stone forts. Ireland boasts an array of unique landmarks and monuments that not only narrate the story of the nation’s past but also celebrate our connection to the sea and waterways.
We invite you to capture these coastal treasures through your lens – share with us your most cherished coastal landmark or embark on an adventure to uncover a hidden seaside gem. Below, you’ll see some examples of our previous talented photographers who have masterfully depicted the essence of Ireland’s coastal heritage.
Coastal Landscape
This category is exactly what it says on the tin. Ireland’s coastline is a symphony of drama and moodiness, where crashing waves meet serene, secluded beaches. This island truly has it all, even if we can’t always promise the sunshine! We invite you to reveal this rich tapestry of diversity, showcasing the breathtaking beauty of our country’s coastal wonders.
Spanning a modest 486 kilometres, Ireland’s coastline is diverse, owing to the roaring waves of the mighty Atlantic on the West and the ever-shifting blues and greens of the Irish Sea on the East. From the majestic headland of Malin Head to the towering Cliffs of Moher, from the tranquil bays of Dublin, our coastline is a canvas of contrasts.
Capture the long stretch of vastness at Cahore Point in Wexford, or the intimate tranquillity of the tiny Sandy Cove beach in Kinsale. Explore the hidden gems – islands where seabirds dance, caves where echoes linger, waterfalls cascading into the sea, and wind-sculpted dunes that whisper tales of time. Every nook and cranny of our coast holds a unique story waiting to be told through your lens.
Wildlife and the Coast
This is your opportunity to unveil the remarkable wildlife that thrives on our island. With an impressive array of more than 4,000 plant species, 400 diverse bird types, and over 50 distinct mammal species, our small country is teeming with biodiversity. Along our picturesque coastlines, we are privileged to coexist with a myriad of marine creatures. From the majestic whales to the playful dolphins, from the graceful seabirds to the mysterious sharks, our marine wildlife offers a spectacle that not everyone has the fortune to witness firsthand. Delve into the depths of our estuaries, rivers, and lakes, where a rich and intricate ecosystem unfolds. Amidst, the waters, hedgerows, and towpaths, a bustling community of plants, insects, birds, and fish coexists harmoniously, each playing a vital role in our country’s ecosystems. Show us the variety of life on our island by capturing the best of Ireland’s Wildlife.
Underwater
Similar to the above, this category is dedicated to exploring the wonders of wildlife and biodiversity, but with a twist — it’s all about the underwater world. Ireland boasts a rich marine ecosystem, with over 24 different types of Whales and Dolphins, an array of a 460 Fish species, 35 unique Sharks, and a diverse spectrum of over 250 marine plants. Our underwater realm is a vibrant and thriving ecosystem, mirroring the biodiversity found on land. Yet, not everyone has the privilege to witness and experience this hidden world beneath the waves. This category aims to shed light on the unseen treasures of our oceans. We invite you to unveil the splendours of the underwater world. Capture the grace of the Atlantic’s largest shark, the basking shark, the adorable sight of white, fluffy seal pups or maybe if you are lucky the majestic ‘blow’ from a Fin Whale off the South Coast. We want to immerse ourselves in the full spectrum of underwater marvels. Through your lens, reveal the mesmerising beauty and diversity that the underwater realm has to offer.
People and the Coast
This category is dedicated to encapsulating the vibrant spirit of coastal communities. We are seeking to capture the diverse range of individuals who engage with and contribute to life by the coast. Whether it’s the surfers riding the waves, the swimmers embracing the coldness, the fishermen casting their nets or the walkers strolling along the shoreline— we want to see them all! This category welcomes any face that finds solace, joy, or purpose in the coastal spaces. Our goal is to celebrate the myriad ways in which people interact with and benefit from these blue spaces. From the tranquil moments of solitude to the bustling activities that define our coastal areas, we aim to showcase the positive impact and importance of our coastal systems. Whether it’s a serene sunrise yoga session on the beach, a bustling fish market scene at dawn, or children playing in the surf, we want to see how the coast enriches our lives. Let’s celebrate the beauty, vitality, and significance of our coastal way of life.
Do you have a question about any of these categories? Get in touch at loveyourcoast@eeu.antaisce.org.
Love Your Coast Photography Guide 2024
The 2024 Love Your Coast Photography guide was created in conjunction with BirdWatch Ireland, Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) and aims to equip photographers with the correct information on how to capture the beauty of wildlife without causing any harm.
Downloading the guide is essential for entering the competition, informing you all about Clean Coasts, Love Your Coasts, terms and conditions, guidelines for photographing birds, marine mammals pinnipeds and other essential wildlife, who our judges are and a guide to the 5 2024 categories!
Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics or a seasoned photographer aiming to refine your techniques, this guide equips you with the knowledge to capture compelling and ethically-responsible images.
Download the guide today, not only improve your chances of creating striking photographs but also contribute to the conservation efforts by highlighting the importance of coastal wildlife preservation through your lens.
* Please note: If you make a submission to the Love Your Coast Photography competition the guidelines outlined within this guide must be followed. If the judging panel feels that entries have failed to comply with the following guidelines they will automatically be disqualified from the competition.
Love Your Coast Judging Panel
Mark Carmondy
Mark Carmondy has been interested in wildlife since he could crawl and started birdwatching with his uncle, Jim Wilson, when he was about 9 or 10 years old.
Tina Claffey
Tina Claffey is an award-winning Irish nature photographer and author of ‘Tapestry of Light-Ireland’s bogs & wetlands as never seen before’ released in October 2017, and ‘Portal-Otherworldly Wonders of Ireland’s Bogs, Wetlands and Eskers’ in 2022.
Jim Coughlan
Jim Coughlan is the Visual Media Manager for the Irish Examiner/The Echo, in roles that include sourcing, creating and managing graphics and video as well as pictures.
Naoise Culhane
Naoise Culhane is a commercial photographer based in Dublin, Ireland, with vast experience working in Press, Public Relations, Corporate and Commercial photography.
Sinead McCoy
Sinead McCoy joined the Environmental Education Unit in 2010, initial working with Green Schools team before moving to Clean Coasts in 2014 as Clean Coasts Officer before becoming the Coastal Communities Manager in 2016.
Conall O’Connor
Conall O’Connor is an Assistant Principal in the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage working in the area of Marine Environmental Policy.
Jim Wilson
Jim Wilson is a wildlife writer, photographer, international wildlife tour leader and broadcaster.
Things to know before entering
Before entering this year’s competition, remember to read our Checklist and the Love Your Coast Terms and Conditions 2024 before submitting your entry.
It is critical photographers adhere to all the points within the Term & Condition, especially around nesting birds and edits to their submission, failure to do so will result in disqualification.