'Irish Examiner' photographer Chani Anderson wins prestigious Press Photographers Ireland award

At the AIB Press Photographer of the Year Awards were (left to right) Press Photographers Ireland president David Branigan, Irish Examiner photographer Chani Anderson (centre) who won 1st place in the Reportage category, and AIB head of external communications Will Goodbody. Picture: INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon

Irish Examiner photographer Chani Anderson has won a prestigious first-place award at the Press Photographers Ireland awards.

Ms Anderson won the reportage category for her work covering Operation Trench 11, the State’s largest charter-flight deportation in November last year.

She and security correspondent Cormac O’Keeffe were given exclusive access to work with An Garda Síochána.

The judges at the PPI AIB awards described her work as "a sensitively observed documentation of a story that resonates globally and politically".

Her work, they said, "has given the viewer a direct and unfiltered insight into how this deportation has taken place". 

The work produced, the judges said, was "bold and honest photojournalism highly deserving of first place".

Press Photographers Ireland 'AIB Press Photographer of the Year 2026 - 1st Reportage - Operation Trench - Tension builds as gardaí oversee Ireland’s largest charter deportation, guiding families and individuals through Dublin Airport in a historic law-enforcement operation. Picture: Chani Anderson/Irish Examiner

The glittering ceremony was held in Dublin at the UCD O'Reilly Hall. The entries included more than 100 iconic images and videos.

The overall winner was Mark Condren of Mediahuis Ireland, winning the Press Photographer of the Year title for a record seventh time.

Mr Condren began his career with Cork newspaper The Avondhu before later working with The Corkman and The Sunday Tribune.

Other winners included Tom Honan in the politics category for a picture of former president Michael D Higgins taken for the Irish Daily Mail.

First prize in the news category went to Niall Carson working with PA Wire/PA Images.

Morgan Treacy working with INPHO won the sports action category. Seb Daly from Sportsfile won the sports feature category.

Gerry Mooney working with Mediahuis Ireland won the public relations category.

Michael McLaughlin, working freelance, won the Multimedia category, for a video showing "a charming tale from rural Ireland about the restoration of a vintage grain binder".

The AIB Sustainability Award was won by Valerie O’Sullivan, also working freelance.

Media minister Jack Chambers said: “In 2026, we live in a world of increasing disinformation and where truth is so often under attack. The photojournalism skills exhibited here have never been more important because the threat to authenticity has never been as profound.” 

The event was sponsored by AIB.

CEO Colin Hunt congratulated all the winners.