These Are Some Of The Best GAA Images Captured In Ireland In 2016

During the incredible GAA season this year, there were plenty of opportunities for all photographers, amateur and professional alike, to capture the GAA at the heart of their local communities.

Ireland’s Instagram awards, The Huawei Snapys, took place this month, giving Ireland’s top Instagrammers a chance to show off their photography skills. 

Guinness sponsored the GAA Category and the standard of the entries shared with the #GuinnessEveryGreatTown has been amazing.

Entries were voted by the public and shortlisted, however, there can only be one winner who was revealed at a ceremony in Dublin’s Mansion House this week.

So, drum roll please….

Winner: Paul Doyle

Location: Carlow

“The inspiration behind this image was the 1916 Rising Anniversary and the fact that Carlow GAA had just erected new floodlighting in Netwatch Cullen Park. There was a special game on the pitch that evening, and the first half was played under normal lighting and second half with the new floodlighting.”

Other Shortlisted Entries We Loved:

Richard Kelly 

Location: The Great Sugarloaf, overlooking Kilmacanogue GAA pitch (aka Fitzsimons Park) 

“I like to photograph things that make me smile, and after a long day’s hike on an injured knee, seeing the lights of the GAA pitch made me smile! It’s easy for this “bit of grass” to make me smile. It holds memories from playing on it as a kid to training on it as an adult. 

“Even though my playing years, if you’d even call it that, are well and thoroughly gone, I still love going up, doing a few laps and taking a few shots – both on goal and with a camera! It’s one of those places when you say where you’re from, you say it with a smile!”

Hailey Carroll

Location: Donegal

“Ardara v Gweedore Senior reserve football semi-final. I’m constantly inspired by the dedication of GAA players who commute hours each weekend so as not to transfer clubs and to keep playing for their own. It’s the pride that inspires me. The Guinness #BehindEveryGreatTown is all about players who can only see the world in the colours of their town/county. I wanted to reflect that in my photo.”