Fall in love with Mayo’s coast as €5,000 photography competition opens

Photographers across Mayo are being encouraged to celebrate the county’s spectacular Atlantic coastline as the 2026 Clean Coasts Love Your Coast Photography Competition opens for entries this Valentine’s Day, February 14.

Run by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme, the annual competition — now in its 17th year — invites amateur and professional photographers to capture the beauty, character and significance of Ireland’s coast. 

With Mayo home to some of the most dramatic stretches of the Wild Atlantic Way, from Keem Bay and Downpatrick Head to the rugged shores of Erris and Achill, local entrants are well placed to make their mark.

This year’s theme is ‘Impact’, encouraging photographers to reflect on the ever-evolving relationship between people, nature and the coast. Organisers are asking participants to consider not only how human activity impacts oceans, waterways and shorelines — through conservation, pollution or climate pressures — but also how the coast impacts our own lives, wellbeing and communities.

From stormy Atlantic waves and towering cliff faces to golden sand dunes, the competition seeks images that showcase Ireland’s coastal landscapes and the deep connection between people and water. Photos must have been taken within the last 24 months.

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A total prize fund of €5,000 will be awarded across five categories: Coastal Landscape, People and the Coast, Source to Sea, Wildlife and the Coast, and Underwater. Each category offers photographers the opportunity to present their own interpretation of the theme while highlighting the natural wonders and heritage of Ireland’s shoreline.

Clean Coasts says the competition is about more than photography. By taking part, entrants are helping to raise awareness about the importance of protecting Ireland’s waterways for future generations — work carried out year-round by local Clean Coasts groups, including volunteers here in Mayo.

Organisers are hopeful that the Valentine’s Day launch will encourage people to “fall in love with their coast” and capture the reasons it deserves care and protection.

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Clean Coasts will publish resources and guidance for entrants in the coming weeks, including tips from judges and detailed information on each category. The competition is supported by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Fáilte Ireland.

Entries open on Saturday, February 14, and close on May 15.