AIB Press Photographer of the Year Awards
PRII was proud to be represented at this year’s AIB Press Photographer of the Year Awards, where our Vice President Joan Mulvihill, MPRII, took to the stage to present the honours in the Public Relations category, one of the newest and most anticipated additions to the awards programme.
Held at O’Reilly Hall, UCD, the gala celebrated the very best in Irish press photography across 11 categories, with more than 100 images capturing the stories, challenges, and defining moments of 2025.
Joan presented awards to the top three photographers whose work demonstrated not only strong technical skill but also exceptional ability to tell compelling stories within PR and staged contexts:
1st Prize – Gerry Mooney, Mediahuis Ireland – Ministerial Struggles
Mooney captured a striking and humorous moment between Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon and two headstrong Simmental cattle, transforming a standard photocall into a powerful reflection on politics, control, and the unpredictable nature of working with animals.
2nd Prize – Andrew Downes, Xposure – Oldtimers
Downes’ image from the Clifden Arts Festival launch charmed the judges with its warmth and timeless composition, portraying the easy connection between Connemara Railway Project Director Jim Deegan and a young helper.
3rd Prize – Justin Kernoghan, Reach Plc – Preparing Children for a Submerged Future
This inventive and visually arresting photograph, pupils seated at desks partially submerged in Lough Neagh, called attention to the real-life impacts of climate change and rising toxicity in the lake, offering a bold narrative in a PR staging.
The ceremony also saw Mark Condren of Mediahuis Ireland win the coveted AIB Press Photographer of the Year award, for an unprecedented seventh time. His winning portfolio was praised for its emotional range, technical mastery, and creative depth, work that stands out even in a year of exceptionally strong entries.
The full list of winning and shortlisted images is now available on the Press Photographers Ireland website. The accompanying exhibition will tour nationally from February 2026.
