Alan Betson is named Press Photographer of the Year

Dunboyne photographer's 'versatile portfolio of work'

John Donohoe

Published: Tue 19 Mar 2024, 4:59 PM

Dunboyne resident Alan Betson of The Irish Times has been named AIB Press Photographer of the Year. An Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD was guest of honour at the 2024 annual awards of the Press Photographers Association of Ireland (PPAI) at the RDS, Dublin, hosted by broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan.

Alan Betson won praise for his ability to find the unusual in everyday life and outstanding news photography, with the judges commenting: “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”.

Winning Images from the 2024 AIB Press Photographer of the Year Award Photographer of the Year Portfolio - Alan Betson / The Irish TimesTitle: Burning CityDescription: A burning bus on Dublin’s O’Connell Bridge during riots in Dublin City Centre in the aftermath of a knife attack onschool children on Parnell Square. Photo by Alan Betson

Betson won the News category for his image, 'Burning City' described as a "dramatic image of a Dublin bus during the absolute peak of the Dublin riots, capturing the mayhem of one of the main news events of the year". He was also second placed in that category for his picture, 'Relieved', with the judges remarking that "the sheer relief shown by this man clutching a child in the aftermath of the horrific knife attack at Parnell Square is palpable. The photograph illustrates every parent's worst nightmare."

Winning Images from the 2024 AIB Press Photographer of the Year Award Photographer of the Year Portfolio - Alan Betson / The Irish TimesTitle: RelievedDescription: On a back lane, a child is carried to safety from her school, Scoil Mhuire, as Gardaí and emergency services attendParnell Square in Dublin in the aftermath of a knife attack on school children and their carer. Photo by Alan Betson

In the Politics category, Betson's first-placed photograph entitled 'Improving Foreign Affairs' caught a range of expressions at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference at Farmleigh, while he also took the Arts and Entertainment category with 'Tears of Joy - Niall Horan Fans', taken at Electric Picnic, "a perfectly captured moment enhanced by the lighting colour contrast between the fans and the sky behind".

Winning Images from the 2024 AIB Press Photographer of the Year Award Photographer of the Year Portfolio - Alan Betson / The Irish TimesTitle: Improving Foreign AffairsDescription: Minister for Justice, Simon Harris, Minister for Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan, Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris, Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Steve Baker MP and Minister of State for Media, Data, and Digital Infrastructure, Julia Lopez MP speaking to media after a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Farmleigh House. Photo by Alan Betson

Alan and his family will be received by President Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain on Thursday of this week to celebrate his award.

All the winning and short-listed images from the ‘AIB Press Photographer of the Year’ 2024 can be viewed at the touring exhibition visiting various venues across the country over the coming year.