Niall Kearns, Airport Director at Shannon Airport and David Branigan, President of Press Photographers Ireland CLG review this years PPAI brochure as photograpers John Kelly, Ray McManus, Brendan Gleeson, Kieran Ryan Benson and Liam Burke watch on as Press Photographers Ireland CLG Exhibition Opens at Shannon Airport. Photograph: Don Moloney
SHANNON AIRPORT has launched an exhibition of photographs from some of the top photographers in the country.
On Tuesday, the Press Photographers Ireland CLG Exhibition was officially launched in Shannon Airport and it runs until August 26th on the first floor of the departures area.
A photograph at Spancil Hill Fair by Mullagh native John Kelly who is a staff photographer with The Clare Champion is included in the exhibition. The AIB Press Photographer of the Year Awards honour the finest in Irish press photography. This exhibition showcases all winning and shortlisted entries, over 100 captivating images that powerfully narrate Ireland’s story throughout 2024 across a variety of categories.
World renowned sports photographer James Crombie of INPHO claimed his third AIB Press Photographer of the Year title this year. His powerful portfolio on display includes Clare hurlers Tony Kelly and John Conlon celebrating on the grass of Croke Park following their All-Ireland success last July. It also features Katie Taylor winning Olympic gold, Limerick’s Kyle Hayes in action and a planned image for Pieta’s Darkness Into Light campaign.
Inis Cealtra is also included with an aerial shot by Niall Carson for the funeral of Tuamgraney born Edna O’Brien.
Limerick photographers, Brendan Gleeson and Keith Wiseman who were awarded second and third in the news and public relations categories respectively also have their work in the exhibition. Other categories showcased include news, daily life, people, sports, politics plus arts and entertainment.
Niall Kearns, Airport Director at Shannon Airport said the exhibition offers “a contemporary vision of modern Ireland”. He noted the “power of enduring images is something we at Shannon Airport understand very well” while referencing the time spent by passengers studying photographs of famous faces in the departures lounge.
He added, “They say a picture paints a thousand words and that’s certainly true here, with 2024 coming vividly to life as you move among these images. Congratulations to all the award-winning photographers. I encourage everyone travelling through, or visiting Shannon Airport, to take the time to experience it”.
President of Press Photographers Ireland CLG, David Branigan admitted they were honoured to be hosted by Shannon Airport. He outlined that the exhibition “tells the story of Ireland in 2024”. He continued, “not only does it tell the Irish story as we almost see every day but this story is absolutely accurate in era when generative AI is forming part of our everyday language”.
David continued, “there is no generative AI here, these are images which actually happened by photographers who find the most unusual of images be it sport, culture or grittier side of life with news stories we’d rather not see happen but our members put their security and safety on the line”.
