Liscannor photographer wins Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark competition

A Liscannor-based photographer has been named overall winner of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark photography competition, which is celebrating 20 years of the Global Geoparks Network. 

Croatian-born Anja Kolic’s image of the Doolin shoreline, with the Cliffs of Moher in the background, has been selected as winner by a judging panel comprised of Geopark geologist Dr Eamon Doyle and professional photographer Eamon Ward.

Anja’s photograph will now be submitted to a national competition in which her entry will be judged against the winners of similar contests hosted by Ireland’s three other Geoparks, namely the Copper Coast in Waterford, Cuilcagh Lakelands in Cavan and Fermanagh, and Mourne Gullion Strangford in Down.

The Irish winner will then be sent forward to compete against entries from the 229 UNESCO Global Geoparks across the world.

To mark her competition win, Anja was presented with a bespoke hamper by Birgitta Curtin of Burren Smokehouse, which includes the best of their famous produce as well as other local GEOfood products.

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Competition judge Eamon Ward commented, “Anja’s photo is well composed with speckles of warm evening light on the foreground limestone. The beautifully backlit wave breaking and cliffs bathed in evening light with nice detail in the sky in the distance would make you want to be there.”

According to Dr Eamon Doyle, “Anja’s photo captures the main geological elements of the Geopark in one image. We have the karst limestone in the foreground, the sandstone and shale of the Cliffs of Moher in the distance and the importance of the element of water is highlighted in between them by capturing the beautifully formed wave.”

Originally from Croatia, Anja Kolic lives with her husband in Liscannor. As well as producing landscape photography, Anja also photographs elopements, proposals, weddings, food and products. For more, you can go to www.anjakolic.com.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas of international geological significance which promote Earth science education, sustainable tourism development, biodiversity, awareness of climate change and UNESCO’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark is managed by Clare County Council with support from Geological Survey Ireland.