Offaly photographer chosen as finalist in Love Your Coast competition
Offaly photographer’s picture of tender moment between two dolphins off the coast of Kerry landed him a spot on the shortlist
Offaly photographer Steve Byrne was named as a finalist in this year’s edition of the Love Your Coast photography competition.
Steve was shortlisted in the 'Wildlife and the Coast' category with his image entitled "Mother and Baby Dolphin" taken in Co. Kerry.
His photograph captures a fleeting moment between a dolphin and their young calf peacefully swimming together in the waters around the Dingle Peninsula.
Speaking on how the photograph was captured, Steve explained: “I have been photographing wildlife for over 40 years, and I have a passion for dolphins and whales.”
“This photograph was taken in the Dingle Peninsula, I had been on the boat for over 3 hours when we spotted a pod of dolphins feeding, I was lucky enough to capture this young calf resting on its mother's fin. For me, this is the shot of a lifetime.”
The finalists of the 2026 Love Your Coast photography competition were officially unveiled on Thursday, July 16 by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre.
The competition which is now in its 17th consecutive year, showcased the Irish Coast in all its brilliance at the awards ceremony to honour the 2026 finalists.
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 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.
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.
Bronagh Moore, Clean Coasts Programme Manager, praised the standard of photographers throughout Ireland as well as their ability to capture the country’s coasts and wildlife. "Every year we are reminded of how many talented and creative photographers we have nationwide capturing incredible images of our beautiful island.”
She concluded: “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.”