From Sallynoggin College to the Pulitzer

Ivor Prickett’s Journey from Further Education to Global Impact

Irish photojournalist Ivor Prickett,  has won a Pulitzer Prize as part of a New York Times team recognised for its powerful coverage of the civil war in Sudan. While his name is now known globally, Prickett’s journey began much closer to home — at Sallynoggin College of Further Education (SCFE).

It was at SCFE that Prickett first discovered his passion for photography. Unsure of his future after school, he enrolled in a photography course that offered hands-on training, real-world assignments, and an encouraging atmosphere that sparked his creativity. He credits the college and his photography teacher Joe Sterling,  with setting him on a path that would lead to international recognition.

Ivor's SCFE photography project documenting Duffy’s Circus earned him a place on a prestigious documentary photography course in Wales, opening doors to an international career.

His big break came in 2012, when he captured portraits of Iraqi refugees and a striking image of war correspondent Marie Colvin in Tahrir Square, taken shortly before her death. The image was published around the world, establishing Prickett as a leading voice in conflict photojournalism.

Now based in Istanbul, he has spent over a decade documenting life in conflict zones. Though previously nominated, this is his first Pulitzer win — a proud moment not only for Irish journalism but for SCFE and the Further Education sector that helped launch his career.