An image of a shore crab has won the top prize in a national photographic competition.
Judges said the photo, entitled Crab & Blue Bucket by John Gorman, from Limerick, captured the typical Irish seaside and demonstrated great texture, movement and personality.
The picture, taken on Ballinskelligs beach in Co Kerry, was among 1,300 entries submitted for the 2010 National Heritage Week photography competition.
Winner of the youth category was Ciara McCabe (17) from Co Sligo, for her photograph of a damselfly on a finger, which the judges said portrayed the relationship of trust and comfort between the human and the fly.
Meanwhile, Sofia Fox (7), from Dublin, secured the junior category for under-12s for her image of her older sister Eleanor holding a waterlily leaf and snail.
Judges said it showed the genuine glee and slight trepidation of discovering wildlife.
Wildlife expert and RTÉ presenter Éanna Ní Lamhna said the competition encouraged people to get outdoors and connect with nature.
“We were delighted to see such an incredible array of images that really captured the variety of nature and beauty of our surroundings,” said the head of the judging committee.