Stunning Local Landscapes Celebrated in Annual AONB Photography Competition

26th September 2025

Ards and North Down Borough Council, in partnership with the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership, is pleased to formally announce the winners of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Geopark Amateur Photography Competition.
Held each year, the competition seeks to celebrate the breathtaking beauty of the three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs): the Mournes, the Ring of Gullion, and Strangford and Lecale.

The winning entries from across these scenic areas are brought together in the highly anticipated AONB Calendar—a publication that showcases the most captivating landscapes of these remarkable areas through the lens of talented amateur photographers.

As in previous years, the standard of entries for the 2025 competition was exceptionally high, with an impressive range of images capturing the areas natural splendour. Judging took place in September, with a panel comprising Ards and North Down Borough Council Mayor, Councillor Gillian McCollum; Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell; and Chairperson of the Mourne Heritage Trust, Mr David Maginn, who undertook the difficult task of selecting the winning photographs.

•    Overall Winner: Enda Quinn – ‘Binnian’s Sunset’, the Mournes
•    Runner-Up: Daphne Ferguson – ‘Bursting with Springtime, Killyleagh
•    Winner – Under 18 Category: Paul McVerry – ‘St John’s Evening Sky’, Killough

A full gallery of the winning and finalist images from the 2025 competition is now available to view online at strangfordlough.org.

Speaking after the judging, Councillor Gillian McCollum, Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council said:
“It was a privilege to participate in the judging process for this year’s AONB and Geopark Photography Competition. Selecting the finalists proved to be a challenging task, given the number of outstanding images that so vividly captured the essence of our local landscapes. I look forward to seeing the winning entries featured in the 2026 AONB Calendar.”

The 2026 AONB Calendar will be available in time for the Christmas season, and details of where to obtain a copy will be published on the AONB websites. The next round of the competition will launch alongside the release of the calendar, with entries invited for the 2026 edition.

For further information, visit strangfordlough.org.