RTÉ and the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland with the OPW present Eye on Nature – Ireland’s newest national wildlife photographic competition.
RTÉ’s Mooney Goes Wild and The Today Show launched the competition in January 2021, to celebrate the flora and fauna of our island. It received an overwhelming response, with more than 7,000 entries.
The judging panel, consisting of Matthew Jebb (National Botanic Gardens), Niall Hatch (BirdWatch Ireland) and Sheena Jolley (acclaimed wildlife photographer), chose the final 12 photographs you see exhibited here.
These photographs represent the rich natural heritage that Ireland has to offer, which has brought joy and hope to so many of us in recent times.
On March 17th Derek Mooney announced the overall winner live on the Today Show – Larry Doherty’s Orange ladybird taken at Cabragh wetlands near Thurles – and presented Larry with the inaugural trophy and a prize of €1,000.
The images are on display outdoors in the National Botanic Gardens until the end of April 2021. Please adhere to government guidelines concerning travel.
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- Fallow buck amongst trees (Fia buí, Dama dama) Phoenix Park, Dublin, Co. Dublin
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- Swan cygnet (Eala bhalbh, Cygnus olor) River Barrow, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow
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- Hare (Giorria, Lepus timidus) Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim
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- Kingfishers mating (Cruidín, Alcedo atthis), River Boyne, Navan, Co. Meath
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- Red fox cub on logs (Sionnach, Vulpes vulpes) Ravenhill, Belfast, Co.Antrim
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- Patchwork leafcutter bee (Beach gearrthóir duille, Megachile centuncularis) Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
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- Barn owl (Scréachóg reilige, Tyto alba) Ballyfin, Co. Laois
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- Grey seal pup (Lao Mara, Halichoerus grypus) Great Saltee Island, Co. Wexford
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- Jay with red squirrel (scréachóg choille, Garrulus glandarius; Iora rua, Sciurus vulgaris) Garryhinch, Co. Laois
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- Starling murmuration (Druid, Sturnus vulgaris) Lough Ennell, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
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- Hares boxing (Giorria, Lepus timidus) Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim
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- OVERALL WINNER: Orange ladybird (bóin Dé buí, Halyzia sedecimguttata) Cabragh Wetlands, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Edele Cunningham
Fallow buck amongst trees (Fia buí, Dama dama) Phoenix Park, Dublin, Co. Dublin
Marcin Kaczmarkiewicz
Swan cygnet (Eala bhalbh, Cygnus olor) River Barrow, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow
Johnny Mitchell
Hare (Giorria, Lepus timidus) Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim
Andrew Yeates
Kingfishers mating (Cruidín, Alcedo atthis), River Boyne, Navan, Co. Meath
Tristan Bane
Red fox cub on logs (Sionnach, Vulpes vulpes) Ravenhill, Belfast, Co.Antrim
Philip Greaves
Patchwork leafcutter bee (Beach gearrthóir duille, Megachile centuncularis) Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Feargal Quinn
Barn owl (Scréachóg reilige, Tyto alba) Ballyfin, Co. Laois
Ruth Kelly
Grey seal pup (Lao Mara, Halichoerus grypus) Great Saltee Island, Co. Wexford
Paul Fetherstonehaugh
Jay with red squirrel (scréachóg choille, Garrulus glandarius; Iora rua, Sciurus vulgaris) Garryhinch, Co. Laois
James Crombie
Starling murmuration (Druid, Sturnus vulgaris) Lough Ennell, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Tom McDonnell
Hares boxing (Giorria, Lepus timidus) Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim
Larry Doherty
OVERALL WINNER: Orange ladybird (bóin Dé buí, Halyzia sedecimguttata) Cabragh Wetlands, Thurles, Co. Tipperary