On 18th June 2024 the launch took place at the Civic Offices, Nenagh of the exhibition of photographs from the AIB Press Photographer of the Year Award 2024. Special guests on the night were Alan Betson of the Irish Times, overall winner of the AIB Press Photographer of the Year Award 2024 and Tipperary Rose, Tara Brady. Also present were Paul Sherwood of Press Photographers Ireland and local members of Press Photographers Ireland Pádraig Ó Flannabhra and Odhran Ducie as well as a large number of guests.
The exhibition has been on view from 5th June and will remain in situ until 27th June. In addition to the award-winning photographs of Alan Betson, it also features other award winners including Clodagh Kilcoyne, Dara Mac Dónaill, Philip Doyle, Niall Carson, Bryan Keane, James Crombie, Ben Brady, Dan Sheridan, Brendan Moran, Tom Maher, Mark Condren (Press Photographer of the Year 2023), Byran O’ Brien, John Kelly, Nick Bradshaw, Michael Mac Sweeney, Frank McGrath, Andres Poveda, Sam Boal and Dan Lenihan. Images portrayed include the overall winner ‘Burning City’ by Alan Betson showing a burning bus on Dublin’s O’ Connell Bridge during riots in Dublin City Centre in the aftermath of a knife attack on school children on Parnell Square.
On the evening Alan Betson provided a thought-provoking presentation of his works over the years and gave an insight into the approach, challenges and techniques involved. In selection of the overall award-winner the judges said ‘The overall Photographer of the Year Award goes to a photographer who showed huge versatility. Their portfolio showcased outstanding news photography as well as a strong eye for quirky daily life images. They are well able to compose images and have a strong sense of design, a keen perceptive eye and the ability to find the unusual in the everyday. The judges were unanimous in their selection”. The audience who viewed his works in the Civic Offices would fully agree with the judges’ comments.
