Tipp Peace Award for humanitarian Giles

Special day for acclaimed photographer

Internationally acclaimed photographer, writer, humanitarian and peace advocate Giles Duley was presented with the 2025 Tipperary International Peace Award at a ceremony in Tipperary on Tuesday, September 15.

The award recognises individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to peace, humanitarianism and shared humanity. Giles was honoured for his extraordinary courage and resilience, his commitment to communities affected by conflict and displacement, and his work using photography and storytelling to give dignity and visibility to people whose voices might otherwise go unheard.

Presenting the award, Martin Quinn described Giles as someone who “does more than document war. He documents people,” highlighting his ability to move beyond statistics and headlines to tell the individual stories of people living with the consequences of conflict.

“Through his lens, we encounter individuals and families whose lives have been changed forever by conflict, displacement and violence. He asks us to look beyond the statistics, beyond the politics and beyond the headlines – and to see the person.”

Giles began his career as a photographer working in music, fashion and celebrity before increasingly turning his attention to humanitarian storytelling. In 2011, while working in Afghanistan, he stepped on an improvised explosive device and sustained life-changing injuries, losing both legs and his left arm.

Following a long recovery, Giles returned to photography and humanitarian work. His subsequent work has taken him into communities affected by war and displacement around the world, documenting not only suffering and loss, but also resilience, dignity, family and hope.

Through his photography and advocacy, Giles has sought to challenge the way people affected by conflict are represented, placing their experiences and voices at the centre of his work.

He is also the founder of the Legacy of War Foundation, an international charity supporting communities affected by conflict and working to create positive change through humanitarian programmes, storytelling and advocacy.

Speaking after receiving the award, Giles Duley said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Tipperary International Peace Award.

“Throughout my work I have never felt that I was simply photographing conflict; I have been fortunate enough to meet people who have invited me into their lives and trusted me with their stories. Those encounters have changed me far more than I could ever explain.

“Peace can sometimes feel like an enormous and distant idea, but I believe it starts with something much more human — seeing one another, listening to one another and recognising each other’s dignity.

I have witnessed extraordinary kindness and resilience in some of the darkest places, and it is those moments that continue to give me hope.

“I accept this award on behalf of the many people I have had the privilege of meeting and photographing over the years. Their courage, their generosity and their determination to rebuild their lives are what inspire me to keep doing this work.”

The Tipperary International Peace Award is one of Ireland’s most significant recognitions of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to peace and humanitarianism. Previous recipients have included Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Mary Robinson, Ban ki-Moon and Malala Yousafzai.

The award ceremony took place in Tipperary, bringing together representatives from the Tipperary Peace Convention and supporters of the award.