Eye on Nature
Celebrating Ireland’s amazing wildlife and creative talent
1>> WINNER Red squirrel (Lora rua, Sciurus vulgaris) - Jimmy Mc Donnell, Newcastle Co Wicklow
Celebrating the wonderful flora and fauna of our island is the aim of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland and RTÉ ‘Eye on Nature Photography Competition’. This year there was an overwhelming response to the national wildlife photography competition, with over 3,000 entries.
The 12 finalists photographs were recently announced with a further 8 runner-up images.
This year’s competition was launched in January on Mooney Goes Wild on RTÉ Radio 1 and Today on RTÉ One. The judging panel are Dr Matthew Jebb (Director, National Botanic Gardens), Anne Sommerfield (award-winning filmmaker) and Mike Brown (award-winning wildlife photographer.) They narrowed 100 photos down to the final 12 images that “represent the rich natural heritage that Ireland has to offer, showcasing our island’s biodiversity”.
Derek Mooney said: “Most of us only ever catch a fleeting glimpse of wildlife. The beauty of these twelve finalists’ photographs is that they enable us to enjoy that moment over and over.”
The winner was announced live during a special Mooney Goes Wild from the National Botanic Gardens and received the Eye on Nature trophy and a prize of €1,000
The 12 Finalists
1>> WINNER Red squirrel (Lora rua, Sciurus vulgaris) - Jimmy Mc Donnell, Newcastle Co Wicklow
2>> Badger (Broc, Meles meles) - Tristan Bane, Ards Peninsula, Co Down
3>> Red squirrel (Lora rua, Sciurus vulgaris) – Declan Roche, Ballyfi n, Co Laois
4>> Multiple mating frogs (Loscán, Rana temporaria) – Paddy Tubbritt, Avondale, Waterford City
5>> Red Stag (Fia rua, Cervus elaphus) – Peter O’Toole, Killarney National Park, Co Kerry
6>> Mute Swan (Eala bhalbh, Cygnus olor) - Sue Butler, Bushy Park, Dublin
7>> Two Red squirrels (Lora rua, Sciurus vulgaris) – Michael Allen, Kildanogue Woods, Co Tipperary
8>> Black-headed Gulls (Sléibhín, Larus ridibundus) – Davor Goll, Poppintree Park, Dublin
9>> Cormorant with brown trout (Broigheall, Phalacrocorax carbo; Eascann, Anquilla anquilla) – Philip Duke, River Dodder, Rathfarnham, Dublin
10>> Hare (Giorria, Lepus timidus) – Stephen Dunbar, Glenwherry, Co Antrim
11>> Red stag (Fia rua, Cervus elaphus) - Karol Waszkiewicz, Killarney National Park, Co Kerry
12>> Fox (Sionnach, Vulpes vulpes) – Michael Crowley, Fermoy, Co Cork
Follow us on Instagram
