An Taisce’s Clean Coasts has announced the winning photographers of the 2025 Love Your Coast photography competition.
Running for its 16th year, the award ceremony held in EPIC, Dublin, showcased the Irish Coast in all its wonder, celebrating the immense beauty and heritage of the coast and waterways that Clean Coasts’ volunteers work tirelessly to protect.
This year, Dublin photographer Maria Quigley’s photograph, “Embrace the Water”, was named the overall winner of the Clean Coasts 2025 Love Your Coast photography competition. With her photo also taking first place in the new ‘Connecting with the Coast’ category.
The photo dreamily illustrates the subject Bobby, in the golden soft morning light during his daily swim. Maria explained the process of capturing her photo “I took this photo on January 9th 2025, when the sea was 7°C and ice covered the slipway. Bobby, swims daily in the morning time all year-round, usually at Coliemore Harbour, his favourite spot. He says that missing a swim ruins his day. I was lucky to take the photo as the sun was rising at that time.”
Mark O’Leary image took first place in the ‘Underwater’ Category of the Love Your Coast Photography Competition with their image “The Giants”, which captured Basking Sharks quietly passing by at Loop Head in Clare. “This photograph was taken off the coast of County Clare, Ireland, during a calm morning dive in late summer. A slow-moving group of basking sharks passed through the area, their presence both steady and unobtrusive.
The overcast light and limited visibility lent the encounter a quiet, muted atmosphere. Remaining still and maintaining a respectful distance allowed for this image to be captured without disturbing the sharks’ natural behaviour,” said Mark.
Shazia Waheed came in second place in the ‘Underwater’ category with their photo “Blue-rayed Limpets” capturing the mesmerising gastropods in the shallows of county Clare. “I was mesmerised by the clarity of the water and the vibrant colours as I snorkelled through the famous Pollock Holes at Kilkee, Co. Clare.
Snorkelling in such calm still water at low tide allowed me to get close enough to capture the stunning blue iridescence of an especially large colony of blue-rayed limpets on kelp, which is normally very difficult in open water as the kelp fronds sway back and forth in the current,” they said.
Eabha Hughe’s image “Hiding in Plain Sight” was also a finalist in the ‘Underwater’ category. The photo captures a small, near invisble prawn at night at Kilkee Pier.
First place winners in all five categories are as follows:
Coastal Landscape: Seán Bruen with “Balbriggan Lighthouse Blowing a Gale”, taken at Lambeecher, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
Connecting with the Coast: Maria Quigley’s photo “Embrace the Water” taken in Coliemore Harbour, Dalkey, Co. Dublin
Wildlife and the Coast: Tom Ormond’s photo entitled “Humpback Whale”, taken at Donegal Bay Co. Donegal.
*Underwater: Mark O’Leary’s photo “The Giants” captured at Loop Head Co. Clare
Source to Sea: Helen Black with “Let there be Light”, taken at Glendasan, Co.Wicklow
This year over 560 photographers entered a total of 1,178 photos for a placement in the top three in one of five categories and their share of the €5,000 prize fund and for a shot at the coveted title of Photographer of the Year.
The five distinct categories this year focused on showcasing the interconnectedness of Ireland’s waterways and how people, place and nature all connect with our vital blue spaces, be it by the beach, lake, or river. Two new categories were introduced this year to highlight this theme of Connection; Connecting with the Coast, and Source to Sea, alongside firm competition favourites of Coastal Landscape, Wildlife and The Coast, and Underwater.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has been proud to support the “Love Your Coast” Awards for many years. Love Your Coast provides a powerful forum for Ireland’s most creative photographers to showcase our spectacular and beautiful coast and seas. The visual legacy that has been built up over the years will provide a powerful record for the future. Support for this inspiring programme is transferring to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment who welcome and look forward to ongoing engagement with An Taisce in the coming years.
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. These initiatives ensure that our beautiful coastline and beaches are maintained and managed appropriately for visitors and local communities to continue to responsibly enjoy.
An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme Manager, Bronagh Moore said “The Love Your Coast photography competition, has once again received outstanding submissions which is a testament to the hugely talented photographers we have in Ireland and how they can so creatively capture the stunning beauty of our coastline and waterways. We introduced two new categories this year to highlight our unique connection to the water and its journey from source to shore, and it proved to be hugely popular. You can see from the beauty of the photographs, why our community groups are so motivated and work tirelessly to care for and protect our coastline, marine life and waterways.”
The Love Your Coast photography competition aims to promote connection to Ireland’s coastal beauty and character, as captured through the lens of talented photographers who take part in the competition year after year. An Taisce, Clean Coasts and our competition supporters wish to congratulate all the winning and shortlisted photographers and thank them for being part of this year’s competition.