Laois teen wins prestigious Young Photographer of the Year award
Mountrath youth Rossa Bracken recognised for stunning work
A Laois teen has been recognised on the national stage for his stunning wildlife photography.
Sixteen year old Rossa Bracken from Johnsborough, Mountrath won Young Photographer of the Year through the Nature Photography Award category.
Rossa's winning photograph will be on permanent display at Mary Lavin Place, adjacent to Wilton Park in Dublin city centre.
Pictured: 16 year old Rossa Bracken with his award winning photograph
The young photographer's prizewinning photo was a happy accident, he told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
"I took the photo when I was twelve, I saw a fox in the ditch and jumped out of the car to get the picture," he said.
"As I'm taking the picture of the fox, suddenly a lamb sticks its head out too, I didn't even notice at first! I posted the picture into a Facebook group at the time, it got over 10,000 likes," Rossa said.
Where does the teen's passion for photography come from?
Pictured: Rossa's photo on display
"Portlaoise photographer Jim Osborne gave me an old camera he owned, local photographers have been very good to me. They have been very encouraging, I did work experience with Alf Harvey too," Rossa explained.
"The fact that this was during the pandemic, meant that it brought me outside. My main goal in all of this is to get young people to appreciate nature," he said.
"Winning the photography award is a great boost. The fact that hundreds of people will see it, it means a lot to me. I hope it encourages some kids out there," the photographer finished.
Rossa also won Junior Photographer in a photography competition ran by Teagasc in 2025. His photograph of a red squirrel won him the top prize in the Trees and Biodiversity category.
Above: Rossa's award winning photo of an Irish red squirrel
Rossa is known across the county for his wildlife photography workshop he holds for children, and his family couldn't be prouder of him. Last June, Rossa held his 'Get Out!' photography workshops through Cruinniú na nÓg.
"Rossa has always been very lucky when it comes to capturing wildlife- we went over to Estonia to take some pictures, and while we drove through Lithuania, he managed to photograph the rarest bird in the country!" his mother Kathy laughed.
"We went to Canada a few years ago and he managed to photograph almost every hawk and bear species. It was ridiculous how he caught them all in the first week!
"No one in his family has a photography background, he has a huge interest in it. Taking these photos is second nature to him, and the local photography community have been so good to him," Mrs Phelan Bracken praised.
To view more stunning wildlife photography from Rossa, check out his Instagram page here.
Congratulations to Rossa!