England’s Maro Itoje competes in a maul with fellow team mates against their Irish opponents in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship at the Aviva Stadium.

Trainer Johnny Murtagh receives a kiss from owner Tommy Dowd after winning The Paddy Power International Stakes (Group 3) with Mashoor at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival in The Curragh.

A year spent in the horse racing industry, which spans stud farms to racetracks, sales rings to veterinary stables. A strong theme running through the pictures is the connection with humans and the bond they share. Whether it is placing their hopes for the animal’s safety in a St. Christopher Medal or merely getting solace from the hands-on nature of handling horses, it is hard to separate the human from the equine in this multi-million euro industry.

Chairman Roy Barrett and Chief Executive Jonathan Hill pose for a picture before giving a media briefing on the FAI’s Strategy for 2022-2025.

Students from Castleisland Community College taking part in an Agriculture Awareness TY programme, get to meet Dot Cotton, one of Paul Nolan’s horses in training.

Australia’s Kurtis Marschall competing in the Men’s Pole Vault Qualification at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

Actor Bill Murray takes a lunch break whilst competing in the JP McManus Pro-Am.

An offbeat look at the Track and Field action that took place during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Czech Republic’s Tereza Petrizilkova reacts after failing to qualify in the Women’s 400m heats at the 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland.

Republic of Ireland Women’s players Savannah McCarthy with Claire Shine join forces during a training session ahead of their friendly fixture against Australia.

The Czech Republic’s Lukas Rohan, competing in the Men’s C-1 Slalom, on his way to winning a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Munster’s Rhys Marshall loses his gum shield in a clash with an opposing Connacht player during their PRO14 Rainbow Cup game at Thomond Park.

Catalin Preda of Romania dives from the 27 metre platform during the Red Bull Cliff Diving event at Downpatrick Head, Co. Mayo.

Brazil’s Luca Mazzo is seen with a Brazilian flag emblazoned in a prosthetic eye during the Men’s 20k Race Walk at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Mazzo lost his eye aged 15 in a paintball accident. The main challenge of being a monocular athlete is the reduction of depth perception.

Australia’s Genevieve Gregson falls in the final of the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Race horses out training on a chilly morning on the Curragh, Co. Kildare.

A hare follows the horses up the track in The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at The Curragh races.

A young boy gets stuck as he tries to get a better view of the races at Leopardstown

Runners and riders clear “Ruby’s Double” during The Kildare Hunt Club Fr. Sean Breen Memorial Steeplechase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup, at the Punchestown Festival

Republic of Ireland players react at the final whistle, after failing in their qualification bid as Denmark players celebrate their win and qualification for Euro 2020

Sweden’s Clara Nistad and Moa Sjoo in action against Ireland’s Kate Frost and Moya Ryan, at the AIG FZ Forza Irish Badminton Open, National Indoor Arena, Dublin

A general view of athletes running in the Men’s Senior Race at the 2019 European Cross Country Championships, Bela Vista Park, Lisbon, Portugal

Irish International event rider Melanie Young and Master Peace followed by Sam the Whippet clear a fence at the launch of the Tattersalls International Event and Country Fair

Kilkenny's Shelley Farrell during a portrait session for the Camogie League Launch, in Dublin

A general view of the shadows cast by athletes on a wet track, during the Men's 5,000m heats at the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London

Horses in the middle of the field flatten a hurdle, during the Newry RFC Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse

Triathlete Aileen Reid photographed for a series of portraits on Irish Olympians

Great Britain's Mo Farah wins the Men's 5000m final ahead of the USA's Bernard Lagat at the IAAF World Athletics Championship Daegu

A jockey tries to calm his horse after suffering a broken leg, whilst racing on the strand, at Laytown Races.

Amateur bodybuilders prepare and compete in the NABBA World Championships, held in Dublin recently.

A look at the highs and lows of the Irish cricket team during their historic World Cup Campaign.

The Connacht rugby squad are interupted by a winter swimmer as they prepare for their annual team photo

Kilkenny's Shelley Farrell during a portrait session for the Camogie League Launch, in Dublin

A spectator finds some space to rest his head during the boxing programme at the Riocentro Arena during the Rio Olympics

South Africa's Lebogang Shange competing in the Men's 20km Race Walk at the Rio Olympics

A general view of competitors during the swim leg of the TriAthy in Athlone.

Hurler Henry Shefflin walks through a door in Langtons Hotel, Kilkenny where he announced his inter-county retirement.

A dog makes an interesting discovery, or is it, at the 2012 Tattersalls International Horse Trials

Patrick Mullins on Uncle Junior (yellow cap) battles through the water with Nina Carberry on Arabella Boy at this years Punchestown Festival

Sea the Stars with trainer John Oxx

Twin sisters pose for a picture at the Carrickmacross Lions Club Twins Parade

Italy's Andrew Howe celebrates during the Men's Long Jump Final at the World Championships in Osaka.

An old man watches life go by in Beijing.

Clontarf Rugby Club's Phillip Purdue during a wet and muddy All-Ireland league game against Shannon.

Shadows from the athletes competing in the women's 10,000 metre final cross the track during the European Athletic Championships, in Gothenburg.

The Dublin Gaelic footballer Alan Brogan at the Wellington monument in Dublin's Phoenix Park in March 2006

Leinster player, Chris Whitaker, suffers a head injury during a Magners League game against Cardiff Blues.

The entrepreneur and racehorse breeder John Magnier at the Curragh in October 2005

The Celtic League final - Munster vs Neath in February 2003. Morgan Treacy INPHO