Louth photo takes second at Love Your Coast competition
Ann Bruen's striking image was of a lightning storm over Haulbowline Lighthouse
A stunning photograph capturing a lightning storm over Haulbowline Lighthouse at Greenore has earned photographer Ann Bruen joint second place in the Coastal Landscape category of the 2026 Love Your Coast Photography Competition.
The winning image, taken on the shores of Carlingford Lough, was recognised at the national awards ceremony in Dublin on Thursday, celebrating the very best amateur coastal photography from across Ireland.
"My original plan on this evening had been to capture a full moon rise. The weather had other ideas but I was delighted with this spectacular consolation prize: a 'right place, right time' moment, capturing the raw energy of the storm suspended above Haulbowline Lighthouse on Carlingford Lough," Ann said.
The winners of the 2026 Love Your Coast photography competition were officially unveiled 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:
This year, 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 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.
Chris details the process of capturing his remarkable photo, “I followed this male otter along the River Lee in Cork City one April evening, watching him investigate the steps and nooks and crannies in the old quay walls, when he suddenly appeared with this fiery coloured crab. He immediately took it under the next bridge to enjoy it in privacy away from the ever-alert gulls.”
First place winners in all five categories are as follows:
- Coastal Landscape: Adrian Nolan's photo “Stick Man”, taken at Salthill Promenade, Co. Galway.
- People and the Coast: Paul Flynn’s image “In for a Dip”, taken at Inch Beach, Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry.
- Wildlife and the Coast: Chris Martin’s photograph, entitled “A Bit of a Pinch", took home the top prize as overall winner of the Clean Coasts 2026 Love Your Coast photography competition, as well as first place in the Wildlife and the Coast category.
- Underwater: Éabha Hughes’ image entitled “World's Best Dad” captured at Girl Arlene Shipwreck, Hook, Co. Wexford.
- Source to Sea: Pawel Zygmunt’s photo “Tidal Rivers”, captured on Bull Island, Co. Dublin.
Tim Nuttall of Department of Climate Energy and the Environment said: “The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is proud to be part of An Taisce’s Love Your Coast photography competition, which features as one of the annual highlights of their Clean Coasts programme.
“The message of caring for our marine environment along with the high-quality images themselves which showcase the enormous range of marine biodiversity and seascapes is one which we are more than happy to support.”
Shane Dineen of Fáilte Ireland said: “Fáilte Ireland is once again delighted to support the Love Your Coast Photography competition for 2026. The rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean, Irish, and Celtic seas make for endlessly changing sights and when combined with our unpredictable weather provide delight and surprise for locals and visitors alike.
“The imagery from the photographers each year plays an important role in highlighting the diverse marine wildlife and our maritime heritage on our island.”
Bronagh Moore, Clean Coasts Programme Manager, said: "Every year we are reminded of how many talented and creative photographers we have nationwide capturing incredible images of our beautiful island. We are so grateful and privileged to have them share their passion with us and in turn showcase Ireland’s stunning coast, waterways and wildlife.
“Our theme of ‘impact’ this year serves as a reminder that our every action has an impact both positive and negative. We must all play our part in ensuring our actions serve to protect and care for our coast, waterways, Ocean and marine life.”