Crouched down by the water’s edge with his camera pointed towards the action, Noel McIntyre knew he had captured something special.
It was a match between Cavan Canoe Club and Wildwater Kayak Club in the Irish Canoe Polo Club Championships, staged at the Mullingar Harbour Canoe Polo (MHCP) Club.
Jake Searle of Cavan and Oisin McKay of Wildwater were battling for the ball when McIntyre snapped the picture he was looking for.
“You have got to put the work in to come out with an image like that,” said McIntyre.
“I was really adamant that I had to be at a low angle, so I just sat there for three days.
“I took thousands of shots and that one popped up as the one.
“I knew it was special when I looked in the back of the camera.”
McIntyre’s picture was awarded third place in the aquatic category of the 2026 World Sports Photography Awards.
This award-winning image was not only recognition of McIntyre’s work and Canoe Polo but for the club where the paddle sport discipline is played.
“It’s particularly satisfying for the simple reason that I took a shot in my hometown of Mullingar and at a club where my 17-year-old son competes,” said McIntyre.
“Two or three years ago we knew nothing about the sport.
“We are a town in the middle of the country where we don’t have access to many sports facilities but it’s quite a popular sport so I am thrilled that it has made it to the global stage.”
McIntyre is no stranger to international accolades having been recognised multiple times for his photography and filmmaking.
The Irishman is not a sports photographer, but he has become captivated by the amazing images able to be captured in Canoe Polo.
“I liken it to hurling on water – it’s a very fast and furious game and everybody has a part to play,” said McIntyre.
“As a photographer, I recognised very quickly that there was great potential there for some fantastic images.”
Located in the heart of the Republic of Ireland, Mullingar is home to more than 20,000 people.
Gaelic football and hurling are the dominant sports in the town, but Canoe Polo is making waves.
Founded by Ivan MacDonald in 2019, Mullingar Harbour Canoe Polo (MHCP) Club has become a hotspot for the sport.
“I grew up beside this harbour and all my kids got involved in the sport over the years,” said MacDonald.
“We could see that there was space for four Canoe Polo pitches which is hard to find and we just thought that this would be a cracking venue to run some events.
“We started by running some development events for the kids.
“Some of them wanted to join the club so we ran some bigger sessions and then it kind of gathered steam.
“We ran our first beginners’ course in 2019 and now we have eight players on the national teams and many of them are running beginners’ courses, so it’s come full circle.”
Situated in the centre of town close to schools, Mullingar Harbour Canoe Polo Club has amassed a membership of a little more than 100 people and continues to go from strength to strength.
It has become a significant venue for national competitions, staging the Irish International Open, National Club Championships and ‘Overload’ – an annual junior event that brings young players from across Ireland for a weekend training camp.
Thanks to Sports Capital funding from the Irish Government, the club has been able to develop the venue and provide best-in-class equipment to all its members.
“It’s a strategic game and people like the team element of it,” added MacDonald.
“It’s a very exciting sport with a lot of skills required to play.
“There is a lot to learn on the kayaking side but also the ball control side.
“It’s great to see Canoe Polo surfaced on a world stage and shine some light on the sport.
“The photography competition is our first global award and is adding to our story.
“Noel will be here again at this year’s Irish International Open on August 22 and 23, and the club hopes to welcome international teams. This will be a highlight of the Irish Canoe Polo calendar.”
Pictures by Noel McIntyre
