Happy heron crowned winner of Irish Examiner Readers Photography Competition

The winning shot was captured by photographer Eoin Fealy along the Galway canals in September.

A heron capturing a fish for its lunch has been named the winner of the Irish Examiner Readers Photography Competition for 2023.

The winning shot was captured by photographer Eoin Fealy along the Galway canals in September.

He told the Irish Examiner that he was fortunate in his timing.

He explained: "It (the canal) is along my walk where I’d normally do every day — you know just to get out and clear the head more than anything and I always have the camera with me. 

"It was just the fact that the same heron is usually in the same spot in the canal."

Mr Fealy explained how the heron had initially gone back into a bank of the canal with his mouth open.

He said: "I got lucky — it was like he went into the tree for a mouse or something. He ended up coming out with a big fish and I was lucky enough to be there with it,

"I was there a little while waiting for him to catch it because he went in and, you know, he’s obviously a good hunter — I thought a mouse would have been cool to catch in the picture but a big fish was better on the eye!” 

Mr Fealy said he was "shocked and happy" when informed of his win, which sees him get €1,000 in prize money.

"Usually I never answer my phone! I might bring my kids on a small little holiday to Achill or something similar, we’ll wait and see."

Runners-up

Both of the runners-up in the competition got their shots in Cork and will get €250 each.

Chris Martin won the competition in 2022 and told the Irish Examiner at the time that he wanted to try and get more snaps of the otters in the River Lee in the city.

Chris Martin won a runners-up prize for his shot of an otter moving silently through a rush-hour sunrise reflected in the River Lee in Cork City. 

Lo and behold, one of his pictures of those otters saw him claim one of the runner-up prizes.

He explained: "They're charismatic little animals alright. Once you know they're there, you kind of want to keep spotting them. They can be seen in broad daylight, it's brilliant."

Mr Martin said he would spend his €250 on more camera gear.

The other runner-up prize went to Brian Fahy of Rochestown for his shot of two frogs "getting in the groove" for Valentine's Day in Warrenscourt Woods in Kilmurry.

Mr Fahy said he was "delighted and surprised" to receive the phone call informing him of the news.

Brian Fahy captured a couple of frogs getting into the groove for Valentine's Day at Warrenscourt Woods.

Warrenscourt was a "regular walk" spot for him and it was one of those strolls that led to the magnificent picture.

He did admit that he nearly stepped on the animals prior to getting the snap.

"I had actually forgotten about the particular picture so it was very unexpected but a lovely surprise."

Irish Examiner Visual Media Manager Jim Coughlan said: "The Irish Examiner Readers Photography Competition is a competition unlike most others. It is open to all our readers. So it doesn't matter if you are a seasoned photographer, or just like to take photographs with your smartphone, this competition is for you. Sometimes it's about having a good eye for composition and colour, and sometimes it's just about being in the right place at the right time to catch that special moment.

"It has been very noticeable this year the amount of new entrants we have had joining our competition for the first time. 

"I am thrilled to say that our 2024 competition is now officially open and ready for entries. Two weekly winners are picked each week and announced in the Forum section of our weekend edition of the Irish Examiner. The weekly winners go forward to our final at the end of the year. Log on to irishexaminer.com/photos for full details and to submit your entry."