Four photos taken in Mayo make shortlist in Love Your Coast competition

Four photographs taken in Mayo secured spots in the shortlist in the ‘Wildlife and the Coast’ and ‘People and the Coast’ categories of the 2026 Clean Coasts Love Your Coast photography competition.

The winners of the competition were officially unveiled yesterday (Thursday) by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre.

Now in its 17th consecutive year, the Love Your Coast photography competition showcased the Irish coast in all its brilliance at this engaging and impactful awards ceremony to honour the 2026 finalists.

Amateur photographers from across the country submitted over 1,100 photographs this year in the hope of achieving a coveted place among the final shortlist and ultimately to place in the top three of five distinct categories.

Celebrating the breathtaking beauty of Ireland’s coast and waterways, this year’s Clean Coasts photography competition encouraged photographers to consider the 2026 theme of 'Impact' when snapping their photos. Designed to highlight the profound interaction between humans and nature, for 2026 photographers were tasked with capturing our dynamic relationship to the coast and showcase how nature shapes our lives, while human actions inevitably leave their mark on our shores.

This year over 390 photographers entered a total of 1,101 photographs in the hopes of achieving a place in the top three in one of the five categories, a shot at the coveted title of Photographer of the Year, the chance to have their images published in a national newspaper, and of course a share of the €5,000 prize fund.

The five distinct categories this year asked entrants to highlight different aspects of Ireland’s coastal environment in celebration of these precious ecosystems. From quiet inland lakes, dramatic coastal cliffs and golden sands to vibrant coastal communities, diverse marine wildlife and monumental heritage sites, each category offered photographers a chance to showcase the allure and charm of the Irish coast.

Three images taken in Mayo took positions in the shortlist in the ‘People and the Coast’ category.

Eithne O'Shea made the shortlist with her image 'Keeping an Eye Out', capturing two lifeguards set up for duty on Keel Beach, keeping a watchful eye out over those swimming off the Achill coast.

Linda McNulty's photograph is also a finalist in the 'People and the Coast' category. Entitled 'Murray's Funfair at Westport Quay', her image is perfectly timed to catch the joy and colour of the funfair ride with the beauty of Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick in the background.

Also in this category, Shane Casey's image 'Climbing Dún Briste' depicts climbers after a failed attempt to scale the Dún Briste sea stack off the north Mayo coast as they waited for their lift back to shore from the below encircling safety boat.

In the ‘Wildlife and the Coast’ category, Ryan Williams was named as a finalist with his image 'Northern Fulmars'. This image captures two northern fulmars calling out in symphony while perched on the cliff at Downpatrick Head in north Mayo.

Meanwhile, Cork photographer Chris Martin’s photograph 'A Bit of a Pinch' took home the top prize as overall winner of the Clean Coasts 2026 Love Your Coast photography competition. His well-timed photograph also placed in first in the ‘Wildlife and the Coast’ category.

This eye-catching image captures a fleeting, high-stakes moment late one spring evening along the River Lee in Cork city. Illustrating a split-second encounter between an otter and its prey before he hides away for his meal, this perfectly timed image showcases the survival and natural rhythm of wildlife along our shores, even in urban areas.

This image is a perfect example of nature’s interactions along our coastline and waterways – even in our urban landscapes – and how important it is to slow down in our busy and bustling cities to reconnect with and watch for the wildlife present on our doorstep.

An Taisce, Clean Coasts and the competition supporters wish to congratulate all the winning and shortlisted photographers and thank them for being part of this year’s competition.