Press Release: Lough Ree photo scoops top prize in National Photography Competition

Over 600 entries in the Local Authority Waters Programme ‘My Favourite Waterbody’ photo competition

Overall winner of the ‘My Favourite Waterbody’ national photography competition Lee Williamson from Lanesborough in Co. Longford for his photo of Lough Ree, Co. Longford.

Monday, 24^th of June 2024: One overall winner and five runners up have been selected in the ‘My Favourite Waterbody’ national photography competition that was ran as part of the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) World Wetlands Day celebration. LAWPRO is a national shared service working on behalf of the 31 local authorities in Ireland coordinating efforts to achieve good water quality across the country.

The overall winner is Lee Williamson, from Lanesborough in Co. Longford for his photo of Lough Ree, Co. Longford. Lee is also the regional winner for the Midlands & East and won the top prize of a €500 voucher for Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa in Co. Wicklow along with an A3 framed print of his winning photo.

The other regional winners are as follows Jimmy O’Neill, with his photo of Hollywood Lake in Scotstown, Co. Monaghan, Marie Melvin, with her photo of Lacken, Blessington Lake in Co. Wicklow, John Collins with his photo of Derryclare Lough, in Galway and Dalia Guzauskaite, with her photo from Connemara.

: Jimmy O’Neill’s photo of Hollywood Lake in Scotstown, Co. Monaghan

: Marie Melvin’s photo of Lacken, Blessington Lake in Co. Wicklow

: John Collins’ photo of Derryclare Lough, in Galway

: Dalia Guzauskaite’s photo of Connemara

Anthony Coleman, Director of Services at LAWPRO said: “We are delighted to announce the winners of the ‘My Favourite Waterbody’ photo competition as part of LAWPRO’s World Wetlands Day celebrations. We would like to congratulate all of the participants in the competition and in particular our overall winner and five runners up. The photos showcased Ireland’s inland waterways, lakes and coastal waters and communicated a sense of beauty, comfort and wellbeing in people’s favourite waterside places.”

The competition was shortlisted by an internal panel and the winning photos were selected by an external judge the award-winning Cameraman, Director and Broadcaster, Colin Stafford- Johnson.

Winning and shortlisted photos will be featured in LAWPRO’s 2025 calendar and winners will receive a calendar later in the year in addition to their prize.

For more information on the work of Local Authority Waters Programme please visit: https://lawaters.ie/.