Snappy happy photographers love their coast

A Cork photographer has taken home the top prize in this year’s Love Your Coast Photography Competition.

Chris Martin’s photograph, ‘A Bit of a Pinch’, took home the top prize as overall winner of the Clean Coasts competition. His well-timed photograph also placed in first in the Wildlife and the Coast category.

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.

Chris Marint’s 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.

This image is an example of nature’s interactions along our coastline and waterways - even in our urban landscapes, and how important it is to slow down in our busy and bustling cities to reconnect with, and watch for the wildlife present on our doorstep.

Chris detailed 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.”

A second image taken by Chris Martin entitled ‘The Deep End’ was also named as a finalist in the Wildlife and the Coast category.

This image also taken in Cork city, depicts a male otter climbing out of the water up a vibrant ladder.

Meanwhile Szymon Landwojtowiczis’s photo ‘Between Showers at Lough Hyne’ showcasing a gull taking a moment to themselves in the rain at Lough Hyne in Cork was also named a finalist in the Wildlife and the Coast category.

Cork based photographer Julia Cooper was named a finalist in the Underwater category with her image ‘Spiny Starfish, Marthasterias Glacialis, in the Kelp Forest’.

This image captures a close-up of this blue starfish among the seaweed fronds, taken while snorkelling in the kelp forests of Bantry Bay.

More than 390 amateur photographers from across the country submitted more than 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.

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. Shane added: “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,” added Bronagh.

The Love Your Coast photography competition aims to showcase the vibrant and mutually impactful relationship between people, nature and our coasts, as captured through the lens of talented amateur photographers who take part in the competition year after year.