Four Mayo photographs shortlisted in national Love Your Coast competition
Images from Achill, Westport and Downpatrick Head recognised in the prestigious 2026 Clean Coasts awards
Four photographs taken in Co. Mayo have been shortlisted in the 2026 Clean Coasts Love Your Coast Photography Competition, with local photographers recognised across two categories celebrating Ireland’s spectacular coastline.
The finalists were honoured at the competition’s awards ceremony in Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre on Thursday, July 16 where winners of the 17th annual competition were announced.
This year’s competition attracted more than 1,100 entries from over 390 amateur photographers nationwide, all competing for a share of the €5,000 prize fund and the coveted Photographer of the Year title.
Mayo featured strongly in the shortlist, with three images recognised in the People and the Coast category and one in Wildlife and the Coast.
Among the shortlisted entries was Eithne O’Shea’s photograph Keeping an Eye Out, capturing two lifeguards on duty at Keel Beach in Achill Island, watching over swimmers enjoying the Atlantic waters.
Also shortlisted was Linda McNulty’s vibrant image Murray’s Funfair at Westport Quay, which perfectly shows the colour and excitement of the funfair against the backdrop of Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick.
Shane Casey earned a place among the finalists with Climbing Dún Briste, showing climbers waiting to be collected by a safety boat after an unsuccessful attempt to scale the iconic Dún Briste sea stack at Downpatrick Head.
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In the Wildlife and the Coast category, Ryan Williams was recognised for Northern Fulmars, an image of two northern fulmars perched on the cliffs at Downpatrick Head.
The competition’s overall Photographer of the Year award went to Cork photographer Chris Martin for his image A Bit of a Pinch, which also claimed first place in the Wildlife and the Coast category. The photograph captures an otter carrying a brightly coloured crab along the River Lee in Cork City.
Clean Coasts Programme Manager Bronagh Moore praised the quality of entries.
"Every year we are reminded of how many talented and creative photographers we have nationwide capturing incredible images of our beautiful island,” she said.
This year’s competition challenged photographers to interpret the theme “Impact”, encouraging entries that explored the relationship between people and Ireland’s coastline, highlighting both the beauty of the natural environment and the influence human activity has on it.
“Our theme of ‘impact’ this year serves as a reminder that our every action has an impact both positive and negative,” Moore said. “We must all play our part in ensuring our actions serve to protect and care for our coast, waterways, Ocean and marine life.”
The annual competition is organised by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme with support from the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Fáilte Ireland. It celebrates Ireland’s coastal landscapes, wildlife, heritage and communities through photography.