Minister Pippa Hackett announces overall winner of Teagasc Forest Photo Competition 2022
The overall winner of the 2022 Teagasc forest photo competition was announced by the Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Senator Pippa Hackett, today, Friday 16th December. The worthy winner of the “Celebrating our shared national vision for trees, woods and forests” competition is Ciaran Willmore from Dublin with his image “The Hidden Waterfall”.
This striking photograph, celebrates the constant interaction of forests and water in Glenmalure, County Wicklow, one of Ciaran’s favourite places. As the overall competition winner, Ciaran receives a voucher valued at €600, to add to his earlier award as category winner of €400. This brings his overall prize value to €1,000.
Congratulating, the competition winner, Minister Hackett said: “I want to commend Ciaran on his talent and congratulate him for winning the Teagasc Forest Photo Competition 2022. Forests across Ireland provide multi-functional benefits from recreational, environmental, community and economic uses and are an integral part of our landscape. Ciaran’s favourite place in Glenmalure is a fantastic example of the peace and serenity our forests can provide for those who walk and exercise in them and I urge everyone across the country to find their favourite public forest space over the Christmas break.”
Teagasc Forestry Liaison Officer, Paul Butler, who co-ordinated the initiative said: “Teagasc sincerely thanks all participants who submitted such a range of high quality images for each of the three categories in this competition. I would also like to thank the competition judging panel who had such a challenging task in selecting the winning images. Based on the success of this initiative, Teagasc plans to continue this competition in 2023 and incorporate new themes and further competition categories”.
Commenting on the conclusion of the competition, Dr Nuala Ni Fhlatharta, Head of the Teagasc Forestry Development Department said: “Teagasc is again delighted to have hosted this forest photo competition in 2022, which received wonderful images from enthusiastic participants across the country. Congratulations to Ciaran and our other competition prize winners. The categories selected highlight some of the many important benefits our forests provide, as outlined in our Shared National Vision, including benefits for people and for nature. The completion also celebrates the importance of wood as a sustainable and renewable resource that can greatly assist in meeting our future climate goals.”
The winning photos from the Teagasc photo competition, are available to view on the Teagasc website at www.teagasc.ie/forestphotos22. This competition was coordinated by Teagasc with support from the Forestry Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). Once again, Teagasc sincerely thanks all competition participants.