ABOUT THE AWARDS
Welcome to the Press Photographer of the Year Exhibition 2021. Now in their forty-third year the PPAI Awards this year have an added poignancy and resonance, reflecting and recording a truly momentous year in the history of the State.
Nobody could have predicted, at the start of 2020, the cataclysmic impact that the Covid-19 pandemic would have on Irish lives and society but, as ever, the members of the PPAI have fulfilled their role, producing an indelible record which will form part of the national visual archive.
You can view the exhibition here in Gallery or in Video mode.
Over the years this showcase of the finest Irish press photography has travelled across the globe and been displayed in Irish festivals in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Paris, Brussels and Warsaw, enjoyed by millions of viewers over four decades of touring. It is also a regular visitor to festivals, libraries and locations around Ireland.
Spanning nine categories, including News, Daily Life, Nature and Environment, Sport, Portrait, Politics, Arts and Entertainment and Reportage, this collection of winning and short-listed photographs provides a fascinating window into Ireland through 2020.
Arts and Entertainment
1st Place Winner
Arts and Entertainment 2021, Michael Mclaughlin
SAVAGE BEAUTY by Michael Mclaughlin
Savage Beauty, the largest site-specific light artwork ever created by Finnish artist Kari Kola, illuminates the shores of Loch na Fuaiche in Connemara for Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture.
Daily Life & People
1st Place Winner
Daily Life & People 2021, Mark Condren
HAIRY TIMES by Mark Condren
Brotherly love . . . Brothers Ben and Aaron cut each other’s hair during lockdown due to Covid-19.
Multimedia
1st Place Winner
Multimedia 2021, Bryan O’Brien
HARP HANDOVER by Bryan O’Brien
Harp Handover
Nature & The Environment
1st Place Winner
Nature & The Environment 2021, Damien Eagers
BRIGHT SPARK! by Damien Eagers
A fallow deer with an electrical cable wrapped around its antlers in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
News
1st Place Winner
News 2021, Michael O’Neill
FIRST FRONTLINE FATALITY by Michael O’Neill
Dr. Syed Waqqar Ali’s wife and family members grieve at his graveside. Dr. Waqqar died after contracting Covid-19 after spending three months in ICU at the Mater Hospital where he also worked.
Politics
1st Place Winner
Politics 2021, Gary Ashe
THE CAT THAT GOT THE CREAM by Gary Ashe
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald T.D. entering Leinster House after a successful general election campaign.
Portrait
1st Place Winner
Portrait 2021, Bryan O’Brien
COCOONING ON MOTHER’S DAY by Bryan O’Brien
Ellen Creed, Dublin, with the flowers her daughter left outside her door for Mother’s Day. It was the first week of Covid-19 restrictions, when people aged over 70 were advised to cocoon until further notice.
Reportage
1st Place Winner
Reportage 2021, Clodagh Kilcoyne
WEATHERING THE BOARDS by Clodagh Kilcoyne
Torch-lit in a night-time storm. Fog, rain or sun - hardy open sea swimmers weather the Blackrock diving boards in Galway in all conditions, every single day of the year.
Sports Action
1st Place Winner
Sports Action 2021, James Crombie
FOGGY SEMI-FINAL by James Crombie
Fog descended during the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final between Mayo and Tipperary. Usually a sold-out fixture, this year’s match was held behind closed doors.
Sports Non Action
1st Place Winner
Sports Non Action 2021, Bryan Keane
CUP UP AND AWAY by Bryan Keane
Corofin players celebrate with the Andy Merrigan Cup after winning the All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final in Croke Park, Dublin.
Winning Portfolio
1st Place Winner
Winning Portfolio 2021, James Crombie
FOGGY SEMI-FINAL by James Crombie
Fog descended during the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final between Mayo and Tipperary. Usually a sold-out fixture, this year’s match was held behind closed doors.