Ireland Hayes is a full-time photojournalist and reporter with the Foothills Forum, a nonprofit in Virginia that supports local news organizations. In 2023, Ireland graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism and minor in music, and emphasis in photojournalism and feature writing. While in school, she worked on staff and freelanced for several publications such as Georgia Magazine, The Red & Black, The Bitter Southerner, Grady Newsource and the Athens Banner-Herald.

Growing up in a small town in Southeast Georgia, Ireland developed a love for rural communities and the important stories they have to tell. She enjoys documentary photojournalism and environmental portraiture.

Photo by Jessica Gratigny (@jgratphoto)