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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Irish Photo Rally?
Irish Photo Rally is an annual motorcycling event that takes place all over Ireland. Participants take photographs of their motorcycle(s) at a number of predetermined landmarks/objects. The purpose of the event is to encourage people to get out on their motorcycle and visit parts of the country that they may not otherwise see.
How Do I Take Part?
Taking part in Irish Photo Rally is as simple as riding your bike to visit the points and taking a photograph of your motorcycle there. You can register your entry on this site, and will receive a link within 2 weeks that you can use to submit your photos. If at the closing date, you have submitted photos of at least 12 of the locations, you will qualify for an award. If you wish to include a pillion in your entry, (s)he must be visible in the photos, and have their own entry. NOTE: Entries are not refunded, so if your not sure you will visit at least 12, then do not register to enter until you are sure you’ll get to at least 12. Photo Awards are only given to entrants with at least 12 locations visited.
How much does it cost?
Rider: €15
Pillion: €15
Paper albums are not longer being accepted.
What do I get for taking part?
Participants get a badge for visiting a set number of points. A bronze badge is awarded for visiting at least 12 points, a silver badge for visiting at least 18 and a gold badge is awarded for visiting all 24 points.
When Does It Start?
There is no cut-off date for starting, as long as you have completed your points and submitted your entry before the deadline. Irish Photo Rally generally runs from the start of February to the start of November each year. This year, it starts on Feb 9, 2025 and ends on Nov 9, 2025. This means the list of points for 2025 was released on Feb 8, 2025 and you can take part and submit your entry any time from then until the deadline (Nov 9, 2025).
When Is The Deadline?
This year’s deadline is: Nov 9, 2025.
Can I Submit Photos As I Take Them?
Yes, we are introducing a new photo upload process this year, 2025. After registering, you will receive a link to allow you upload your photos, Your link will be active within 2 weeks of your applying for it, and remain active until the closing date of the rally. You may upload from your Phone or Computer at any time, one photo at a time throughout the year, or all at the end. Your choice.
Can I Use Multiple Bikes?
Yes. You can use as many bikes as you wish. However, to be eligible for the “Smallest Bike Award”, “Oldest Bike Award” etc, the bike must have visited at least 12 points.
What Are The Prizes?
There are no “prizes”. We give awards, which have no monetary value, to participants for anything that the judges deem worthy of praise, admiration or ridicule!
How Do I Download The GPX File?
A GPX file containing all the points for the current year can be downloaded from the map page. The method for downloading it varies slightly, depending on what browser you are using, but a general instruction is to right-click on the link and select “Save As” or “Save Link As”, or something similar in the menu that appears.
How Do I Install The GPX File On My Sat Nav?
As there are many different makes and models of sat nav, we can’t provide instructions to participants on how to install the GPX file on their sat nav.
The Point Isn’t What/Where You Said.
The location and description of each point is checked carefully before the list is published. While we are not infallible, the list is usually correct. If you think the GPS coordinates are incorrect, please make sure you are using the correct format (Degrees Minutes Seconds/Degrees Minutes/Decimal Degrees). Some sat navs don’t show all roads/tracks and therefore may lead you astray. This is a fault with the maps on the device, not a mistake in our coordinates.
The address/townland names we use are as per Ordinance Survey Ireland maps – other maps may vary slightly.
The description of a point is sometimes a little vague, and sometimes even slightly misleading. This is to add an element of mystery and surprise when the participant arrives at the location.
If you are confident that you have found a mistake in the list of points, please let us know via the contact page.
I Couldn’t Get To The Point.
The organisers of Irish Photo Rally cannot anticipate what the conditions will be at a particular point for the whole duration of the event. Depending on weather, roadworks and other factors, it may not be possible to reach a particular point. Sometimes the point might be down a muddy track or up a steep hill which you feel that you, or your motorcycle, are not capable of navigating. Remember that the purpose of Irish Photo Rally is to get you out on your bike, having fun, in places you may not otherwise go to. If you can’t reach a point for any reason, just do your best. Take a photograph of your bike at the roadworks sign, snowdrift, muddy track or whatever obstacle is preventing you from reaching the point. The judges are usually very forgiving when someone has made a genuine attempt to get as close as they could.