Two Meath photographers recognised in Love Your Coast Competition

Two Meath photographers were honoured in the 2026 Clean Coasts Love Your Coast Photography Competition, with one securing a top-three finish and another earning a place among this year’s finalists.

The winners were announced on 16th July at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre, where An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme celebrated the outstanding images selected from more than 1,100 entries submitted by photographers across Ireland.

Lorraine Schilder, based in Trim, achieved joint third place in the ‘Source to Sea’ category with her photograph Dawn At The Boathouse, captured at Carton House, Maynooth, Co Kildare. The image features the tranquil waters surrounding the historic boathouse at daybreak, enhanced by mist on the river and soft pink hues in the early morning sky.

Speaking about the photograph, Lorraine said she arrived before sunrise in the hope of finding misty conditions and was delighted to discover calm waters and beautiful light. The scene was captured using a drone, allowing her to showcase the atmosphere and symmetry of the location.

Fellow Meath photographer James Allen was named a finalist in the ‘Wildlife and the Coast’ category for his image Scratch, taken at the 12th lock on the Royal Canal in Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin. The photograph captures a heron pausing mid-routine to scratch itself, creating a candid and intimate wildlife moment.

James, based in Dunboyne, explained that, as a full-time family carer, opportunities for photography are limited, but regular walks along the canal provide valuable moments of reflection. He described the heron as a familiar presence and said he was delighted to capture such a natural and unguarded behaviour.

Now in its 17th year, the Love Your Coast Photography Competition celebrates Ireland’s coastal and waterway environments, with this year’s theme, “Impact,” encouraging photographers to explore the relationship between people, nature and the coast.