Introduction by Jim Coughlan, Visual Media Manager Irish Examiner.
The Irish Examiner Readers Photography Competition is a competition unlike most others. It is open to all our readers. So it doesn't matter if you are a seasoned photographer, or just like to take photographs with your smartphone, this competition is for you. Sometimes it's about having a good eye for composition and colour, and sometimes it's just about being in the right place at the right time to catch that special moment.
It is great to see the many of the same names appearing during the course of the year from our regular entrants. But it has been very noticeable this year the amount of new entrants we have had joining our competition for the first time.
The quality of the entries makes for difficult decision-making every year and this year is no exception. We had six judges on our panel this year and it became apparent quite early on in the process that our three winners were the judges favourites with quite a gap between them and the rest of the pack. Congratulations to our winner, Eoin Fealy from Galway, and our two runners-up Chris Martin and Brian Fahy from Cork. Our overall winner this year gets €1000 and €250 goes to each of our two runners-up.
Being a part of the Readers Competition is such an enjoyable experience all year through for those of us in Irish Examiner who are involved and I am thrilled to say that our 2024 competition is now officially open and ready for entries. Two weekly winners are picked each week and announced in the Forum section of our weekend edition of the Irish Examiner. The weekly winners go forward to our final at the end of the year. Log on to irishexaminer.com/photos for full details and to submit your entry.
For full details and to upload your entry click here
Overall Winner
Aheron capturing a fish for its lunch has been named the winner of the Irish Examiner Readers Photography Competition for 2023.
The winning shot was captured by photographer Eoin Fealy along the Galway canals in September.
He told the Irish Examiner that he was fortunate in his timing.
He explained: "It (the canal) is along my walk where I’d normally do every day — you know just to get out and clear the head more than anything and I always have the camera with me.
"It was just the fact that the same heron is usually in the same spot in the canal."
Mr Fealy explained how the heron had initially gone back into a bank of the canal with his mouth open.
He said: "I got lucky — it was like he went into the tree for a mouse or something. He ended up coming out with a big fish and I was lucky enough to be there with it,
"I was there a little while waiting for him to catch it because he went in and, you know, he’s obviously a good hunter — I thought a mouse would have been cool to catch in the picture but a big fish was better on the eye!”
Mr Fealy said he was "shocked and happy" when informed of his win, which sees him get €1,000 in prize money.
"Usually I never answer my phone! I might bring my kids on a small little holiday to Achill or something similar, we’ll wait and see."
Eoin Fealy at the Galway Canal Credit: Ray Ryan
Runner ups
LChris Martin won the competition in 2022 and told the Irish Examiner at the time that he wanted to try and get more snaps of the otters in the River Lee in the city.
Lo and behold, one of his pictures of those otters saw him claim one of the runner-up prizes.
He explained: "They're charismatic little animals alright. Once you know they're there, you kind of want to keep spotting them. They can be seen in broad daylight, it's brilliant."
Mr Martin said he would spend his €250 on more camera gear.
Runner up Chris Martin. Picture: Dan Linehan
The other runner-up prize went to Brian Fahy of Rochestown for his shot of two frogs "getting in the groove" for Valentine's Day in Warrenscourt Woods in Kilmurry.
Mr Fahy said he was "delighted and surprised" to receive the phone call informing him of the news.
Warrenscourt was a "regular walk" spot for him and it was one of those strolls that led to the magnificent picture.
He did admit that he nearly stepped on the animals prior to getting the snap.
"I had actually forgotten about the particular picture so it was very unexpected but a lovely surprise."
Runner up Brian Fahy from Rochestown. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Finalists
A dramatic sunrise over Ballycotton lighthouse in East Cork.
Picture Credit : Mark Leo, Cork
Standing - still. A neolithic dolmen tucked away in beautiful Rostellan, East Cork.
Picture Credit : Sally O'Reilly, Shanagarry, Co.Cork
Lovely streams in the Wicklow hills.
Picture Credit : Helen Maloney
Gone Fishing, a Shag taking a rest from fishing on a boat in Lough Allua, Ballingeary.
Picture Credit : Humphrey Twomey, Wicklow
Ali reading a story to her favourite horse, Poppy
Picture Credit : Mark Heffernan, Cork
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.
Picture Credit : Bryan Enright, Kerry
A mute swan glances at a single feather as it passes by on the Anne river, Waterford. Picture: Vincent Bradley, Waterford
Picture Credit : Vincent Bradley
Blennerville Windmill Tralee Co Kerry on a very calm morning in October 2023.
Picture Credit : Noel O Neill, Kerry
Caught In The Act A squirrel stealing a plum in the Walled Gardens at the Visitor's Centre, Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Picture Credit : Brenda Sheridan, Dublin
A crow recently helping out Tralee tidy towns with his litter picking skills.
Picture Credit : Donal Daly, Kerry
Musical hands!
Picture Credit : Sean McInerney, Cork
Morning dew. Clouded yellow butterfly covered in dewdrops in a neighbours field 23rd September 2022.
Picture Credit : Andrew Malcolm
Ruby having a good shake off after her swim at Coumeenoole Beach on the Slea Head drive.
Picture Credit : Catherine Sheehan, Cork
Kylemore Abbey in Co. Galway, Ireland,
'The Happy Tree Hugger' Photo features a squirrel with a hint of a smile. Taken in a woods near Glanmire. This time of year squirrels have emerged from hibernation and are seeking a mate. The smile might indicate that this squirrel has been successful !
Picture Credit : Martin Byrne
A Macro Photograph of a Busy Bee Pollinating at Botanic Gardens, Dublin City.
Picture Credit : Eamon Coyle, Dublin.
Eye of the Cheetah. Foto Wildlife Park.
Picture Credit : Bryan Enright, Co.Kerry
Just sending in this amusing photo I took of our beautiful cat Honey with a field mouse. Honey was always too well fed to be interested in mice, so this little guy got off the hook. I love the symmetry in their ears.
Picture Credit : Deirdre O'Sullivan, Carlow
Red Squirrel, gathering moss to line the drey (nest) for the long cold winter at Killarney National Park.
Picture Credit : Alan Cowzer, Dublin
Lookin Foxy! A beautiful fox on the banks of the River Dodder giving me a stare.
Picture Credit : James Grandfield, Dublin
Connemara rainbow at its finest in the St. Stephen's Day 2022. Co Galway.
Picture Credit : Przemyslaw Kilanowski
Duck off : A male Mallard duck clears off a rival male in Tralee wetlands last week.
Picture Credit : Donal Daly, Tralee. Co.Kerry
Evening at Salthill Promenade Galway, Ireland.
Picture Credit : Michael Deligan, Galway
Golden hour at Port of Galway, Ireland.
Picture Credit : Michael Deligan, Galway
Blue Moon rising behind Roger Casement, Dun Laoghaire.
Picture Credit : Steve Murtagh, Dublin
A Robin enjoying breakfast in the morning sun. Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
Picture Credit : Lorna Singleton
Sunrise on Sandymount Strand, Dublin on a cold December morning.
Picture Credit : Fiona Cronin
A beautiful Steam train passes by Killiney strand and the old Eire sign, in it's way to Dublin Connolly station.
Picture Credit : James Granfield, Dublin
Irish Examiner Longread
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Design Jim Coughlan/Tiernan King/ Ivan Rodriguez
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