Winner of the “Forests for Nature” Teagasc Forest Photo Competition

The Teagasc Forestry Development Department today, Friday, 4 November, announced the prize winners in category 1 of its ongoing forest photo competition ‘Celebrating a shared national vision of trees, woods and forests’. The theme of category 1 is “Forests for Nature” and the deserving winner is Mr Ciaran Willmore, from Dublin. Ciaran’s stunning picture, titled “The Hidden Waterfall”, captures an impressive cascade beneath the forest canopy in Glenmalure, County Wicklow. Ciaran explains how this is one of his favourite places for hiking and that this waterfall is well known but off the main trail.

The winning image was chosen from a wide range of photographs submitted to the competition from all across the country. There were many fantastic photographs and it was difficult to decide on a winner. Ciaran will receive a voucher worth €400 and will also be entered into the Grand Final on 16 December when an overall winner will be chosen from each of the three category winners. The overall winner will receive a further voucher for €600. 

In complimenting the category winner, Paul Butler, Teagasc Forestry Liaison Officer, describes how Ciaran’s photograph captures the wild, and at the same time, tranquil beauty of this forest landscape and evokes a sense of the vitality created at the interface between the water and the forest.

The two runners up in this first category will each receive vouchers to the value €100. Ms DonnaMarie McFaul submitted a wonderfully composed picture from Glendalough in County Wicklow called “Mist Rising, Autumn Morning”. In addition, Mr Noel Lehane from Cork entered an evocative image titled “Life Support”. 

The winning photo, along with the runners up and a selection of highly commended entries in the “Forests For Nature” category will shortly be available for viewing on the forestry section of the Teagasc website at www.teagasc.ie/forestphotos22. 

Teagasc wishes to thank the many entrants to the competition to date. Category 2, “Forests for People”, is now open and provides further exciting opportunities for entries up to 5pm on Monday, 21 November 2022. This ongoing competition is open to non-professional photographers and a maximum of one photo per participant is allowed for each category. Please also consult www.teagasc.ie/forestphotos22 for full details as well as terms and conditions. 

This competition is coordinated by Teagasc with support from the Forestry Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.