An Taisce’s Clean Coasts proudly 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. Locally there was a number of winning and successful contributions from talented photographers.
Meath based photographer, Tom Ormond, came first place in the ‘Wildlife and the Coast’ with his photo “Humpback Whale” taken off Mullaghmore in Donegal Bay, a rare capture of these fascinating marine mammals at sunset. “While on an afternoon boat trip in Donegal Bay last November I experienced this magical moment when a Humpback Whale tail fluked as the setting sun lit up the cliffs at Sliabh Liag in the distance,” Tom explained.
Tom Ormond’s with his photo entitled “Humpback Whale”, taken at Donegal Bay which came 1st in the Wildlife and the Coast category of the Clean Coasts Love Your Coast Photography Competition
Two photographs in total taken in county Meath secured places as finalists in 2025. This included a photograph captured by Dave Stanley of a man and his dog strolling at sunset on Bettystown Beach titled “What a Wonderful World” was a finalist in the ‘Connecting with the Coast’ category. “Sunrise on the Boyne” by Lorraine Schilder was also a finalist for 2025 in the ‘Source to Sea’ category. Their photo depicts a frosty morning sunrise over the Boyne in Slane during the winter gone by
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR:
Connecting to the Coast Category and Overall Winner Maria Quigley with Embrace The Water taken at Coliemore Harbour Co Dublin. 2025
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.”
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
Coastal Landscape Category Winner Sean Bruen with Balbriggan Lighthouse Blowing a Gale taken in Balbriggan Dublin.
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 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 Sponsors wish to congratulate all the winning and shortlisted photographers and thank them for being part of this year’s competition.
