Welcome to the AIB PPAI Photojournalism Awards and Exhibition

It is thirty years since the fledgling Press Photographers Association of Ireland introduced an award to promote press photography in Ireland and around the world. Today the AIB Photojournalism Awards are renowned as a showcase of powerful and memorable photography. Once again we'd like to welcome you to this year's Awards and Exhibition - a very special celebration of images from the past twelve months that capture so many memories for all of us.

AIB has now sponsored the Awards for six years, and recently announced the extension of this sponsorship to 2010. The AIB Photojournalism Awards will continue to recognise the skill and individuality of the photographers who are members of the Press Photographers Association of Ireland.

A record entry of 1,650 images was submitted for this year's competition, from 121 photographers. The Judging Panel of chairperson Bride Rosney, Director of Communications at RTE, Ian Day, Picture Editor of the Yorkshire Post and Jon Levy from Foto 8 in London, had the difficult task of choosing the winners from the array of talent and skill displayed by the entries.

The AIB Photojournalism Exhibition will comprise 116 images, including all the winners. The Exhibition records a year of tragedy and triumph, as well as the trials and tribulations of everyday life in modern Ireland. To celebrate 30 years of magnificent photography, AIB aims to bring their work to a wider audience by bringing the exhibition to some exciting new venues. The Exhibition Tour will start on Wednesday 20th February, in the Gallery of Photography, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

As part of AIB's partnership with the Press Photographers Association of Ireland, it is planned to hold more Photographic Masterclasses and Workshops around the country.

We hope that you enjoy this unique collection of photographs. Each year, the work of Ireland's press photographers strengthens, and their work always provides an interesting and memorable record of the year gone by.

Donal Forde, Managing Director, AIB
Ray McManus, President, Press Photographers Association of Ireland