National recognition for Limerick-based photographer William Murphy

William Murphy, “Isolation” – pictured is Beeves Rock Lighthouse, Shannon Estuary, Co. Clare. Photo by William Murphy via riverbasin.ie

Limerick-based photographer, William Murphy, has received national recognition for his Beeves Rock Lighthouse photograph

Revealed as a runner-up in the 2026 River Basin ‘My Favourite Waterbody’ photo competition, William Murphy adds to his accolades of photography awards.

The Limerick-based photographer was one of the top 630 entries, receiving special recognition alongside the overall winner, Mark O’Connor, from Cliffoney in Co. Sligo, who won thanks to his image of a humpback whale in Donegal Bay.

William Murphy’s image was applauded with fellow runners-up Kevin Jones for his photo of Lough Neagh in County Derry, and Andrew Keane for his photo of the River Nore, in Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny.

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Writing about his image, entitled ‘Isolation’, William said, “Since moving to Limerick, capturing Beeves Rock Lighthouse, located just over the border in Clare, has been on my list. Built in the 1800s, this isolated estuarine lighthouse was photographed on an evening where the weather and sunset conditions finally aligned perfectly after a number of failed attempts. Lighthouses continue to be one of my favourite subjects to photograph.”

From the 630 photographs submitted to the competition, an internal panel of staff from the River Basin Management Service selected a shortlist. The shortlisted entries were then judged by broadcaster and journalist Ella McSweeney, who was joined on the judging panel by Aisling O’Connor, a sixth-year student from County Limerick and an Irish Schools Sustainability Network Ambassador.

Speaking about the photo competition, judges Ella and Aisling said, “This year’s competition produced such an impressive and beautiful body of work showing just how lived-in and loved our rivers, streams, lakes and estuaries are around Ireland. The standard was high throughout, from technical confidence – balancing light, water and structure – to the more intimate images that found beauty in stillness, detail and serenity.  

“What unites them is a strong sense of relationship rather than mere observation. Competitions like this build a constituency of care. When people spend time looking closely at a river, lake or estuary in order to capture it in a photograph, they become more attuned to its health, its changes, and what is at risk. It’s hard to love a place you’ve seen and not want to protect it, and if this competition nudges us to take a closer interest in our waterways, then it has done something valuable.”

On William’s photo of Beeves Rock lighthouse, the judges said, “Beeves Rock lighthouse sits alone in the middle of the mighty Shannon Estuary as the sun burns low on the horizon and floods the water with copper and gold. A vessel moves distantly in the background – evidence of human industry in a frame otherwise given over entirely to light and water.

The Shannon is woven into the Irish imagination as few rivers are – it is ancient, vast and carries the weight of history in its current – and this image honours that scale.

The lighthouse, lit from within as the sky burns bright around it, is both precise and quietly poetic: something built by human hands, holding its position against the immensity of the natural estuary. We owe our existence to the Shannon – the water of life.

This image is composed with confidence and technical accomplishment.”