Offaly photographer reaches final of Love Your Coast competition

Offaly photographer Steve Byrne was a finalist in this year's Love Your Coast Photography Competition.

The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, July 16, at ceremony held in Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.

Steve was named a finalist in the 'Wildlife and the Coast' category with this 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.

“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,” Steve said. 

Now in its 17th consecutive year, the Love Your Coast Photography Competition showcased the Irish Coast. Amateur photographers from across the country submitted over 1,100 photographs in the hope of making the final shortlist.

This year’s Clean Coasts photography competition encouraged photographers to consider the 2026 theme of "Impact" when snapping their photos.