Catchment News

Lough Caum photo scoops top prize in National Photography Competition

Nearly 400 entries in the Local Authority Waters Programme ‘My Favourite Waterbody’ photo competition

Thursday, 7th August 2025: One overall winner and three runners-up have been selected in the ‘My Favourite Waterbody’ national photography competition that was run as part of the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) World Water Day celebrations. 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 in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal waters.

The overall competition winner is Raivis Rodenbikers, from Tralee in Co. Kerry for his photo of Lough Caum, Co. Kerry. Raivis won the top prize of a €500 voucher for Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa in Co. Wicklow along with a framed print of his winning photo.

A tranquil landscape of Lough Caum in County Kerry, Ireland, showing a calm lake surrounded by green hills and trees, with their reflections mirrored on the water. Foreground branches with green leaves frame the scene. Text in the bottom right corner reads: 'My Favourite Waterbody, Overall Winner Lough Caum, Co. Kerry By Raivis Rodenbikers
Overall winner of the ‘My Favourite Waterbody’ national photography competition, Raivis Rodenbikers, from Tralee in Co. Kerry with his photo of Lough Caum.

The runners-up awards are as follows; Sean Nikken, with his photo of the River Nore at Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, Brigid Mullooly, with her photo of the River Shannon, in Co. Longford, and Cheryl Poole, with her photo of the River Bann in Co. Wexford.

LAWPRO received 375 competition photos, which were shortlisted by an internal panel and the winners were selected by an external judge, the well-known environmentalist, wildlife expert and author Éanna Ní Lamhna.

Speaking about the photo competition Éanna said: “This year’s photo competition was a celebration of the personal connections people have with their favourite waterbodies. People were asked to share photos of the places they love; the rivers, lakes, and wetlands that speak to their hearts and they responded with images full of beauty, atmosphere, and emotion. The best entries didn’t just show a scenic view, they invited us in to imagine ourselves there too.
Whether it was a tranquil boardwalk scene at sunset or a frosty Winter morning on a riverbank, each photograph told a story of appreciation and belonging. The winning images capture not only technical excellence but also a real sense of place, you can feel the love and familiarity behind the lens.”

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 Water Day celebrations. We would like to thank all of the participants in the competition and in particular congratulate our overall winner and three runners-up. The photos showcased Ireland’s inland waterways, lakes and coastal waters and communicated a sense of beauty, tranquillity and wellbeing in people’s favourite waterside places.”

Winning and shortlisted photos will be featured in LAWPRO’s 2026 calendar and winners will receive a calendar later in the year in addition to their prize.

Learn more:

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

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Who is involved?

Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

LAWCO

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

DECLG

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.