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Irish Times takes five first prizes at photographer of the year awards

Alan Betson named press photographer of the year

Irish Times photographers Bryan O’Brien, Eric Luke, Alan Betson, Brenda Fitzsimons, Judith Eileen Sleator- who accepted an award on behalf of her father, the late David Sleator - and Dara MacDonaill at thePress Photographer of the Year Awards which took place in Dublin. Photograph: Chris Bellew/Fennells

Wed Feb 4 2015 - 13:56

Alan Betson of The Irish Times has been named PPAI Press Photographer of the Year. Betson won the overall prize on the strength of a portfolio of work taken over the last year and was presented with his award by President Michael D Higgins at a ceremony in Dublin.

This is the third time Betson has won the main prize at the Press Photographers’ Association of Ireland Awards. His picture story on the Liffey Swim also won first prize in the Reportage category.

The awards, now in their 37th year and which are open to members of the Press Photographers’ Association of Ireland, celebrate the very best of Irish press photography. This year, some 2,244 images were entered by 116 photographers from around the country. Awards were presented across nine categories; news, daily life and people, nature and the environment, politics, sports action, sports feature, portrait, art and entertainment; and reportage.

PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR: Alan Betson – A flock of swans pass swimmers in the 95th Liffey Swim last September, one of Irish Times photographer Alan Betson’s pictures from his winning portfolio which won him the overall PPAI Press Photographer of the Year. The Liffey Swim photo essay also earned Betson a 1st in the Reportage category.

Irish Times photographers Bryan O’Brien, Eric Luke, Alan Betson, Brenda Fitzsimons, Judith Eileen Sleator- who accepted an award on behalf of her father, the late David Sleator - and Dara MacDonaill at thePress Photographer of the Year Awards which took place in Dublin. Photograph: Chris Bellew/Fennells

Other Irish Times winners included Eric Luke, who won first prize in Daily Life; Dara Mac Donaill, who won first prize in Arts & Entertainment; and Brenda Fitzsimons, who won first prize in Politics. Fitzsimons also won second prize in Arts & Entertainment.

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Irish Times photographer Bryan O’Brien won a third prize in Daily Life & People and the late Irish Times photographer and picture editor David Sleator won a third prize in News for his picture of Martin Callinan departing Leinster House after attending a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee.

Category winners: full list

NEWS 1. Crispin Rodwell – Freelance 2. Julien Behal – Maxwell 3. David Sleator – Irish Times

DAILY LIFE & PEOPLE 1. Eric Luke - Irish Times 2. Margaret McLaughlin – Freelance 3. Bryan O'Brien – Irish Times

SPORTS ACTION 1. Ramsey Cardy – Sportsfile 2. Ray McManus – Sportsfile 3. Dónall Farmer – Inpho

SPORTS FEATURE 1. Matt Browne – Sportsfile 2. Ramsey Cardy – Sportsfile 3. John Kelly – Clare Champion

PORTRAIT 1. John Kelly – Clare Champion 2. Dónall Farmer – Inpho 3. John Kelly – Clare Champion

NATURE & ENVIRONMENT 1. Domnick Walsh – Eye Focus 2. Clodagh Kilcoyne – Freelance 3. Margaret McLaughlin – Freelance

POLITICS 1. Brenda Fitzsimons – Irish Times 2. Niall Carson – PA Ireland 3. Tom Honan – Irish Mail on Sunday

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 1. Dara MacDónaill – Irish Times 2. Brenda Fitzsimons – Irish Times 3. Julien Behal – Maxwell

REPORTAGE 1. Alan Betson – Irish Times 2. Stephen McCarthy – Sportsfile 3. Paul Nicholls – Freelance

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