'Wow, look at that!' - McVeigh on infamous rugby photo

On this week's GAA Social podcast, Thomas and Oisin talk to famed GAA sports photographer Oliver McVeigh.

Despite a lifetime covering GAA, one of his most recognisable photos came during an infamous moment in European rugby history.

In December 2009, Stade Francias were in Belfast facing Ulster when, after the game, Ireland international Stephen Ferris alleged he had been gouged in the eye by France international David Atoub.

"I was the only photographer who picked it up," McVeigh said on the GAA Social podcast.

"There was a scuffle, not something you see often in rugby, in fairness and being a GAA man, you just rattle off and see what comes next.

"I've a picture of Ferris getting up and you can clearly see Ferris going 'I've been gouged in the eye, I've been gouged in the eye.' You can tell from the distance."

McVeigh said he didn't realised he had captured the image until after the game when he became aware the incident would be escalated.

"We went in after the match and were going through the pictures, and somebody says Stephen Ferris is going to the citing officer about being gouged in the eye.

"I quickly go through my photos and the UR [Ulster Rugby] photographer was next to me.

"This (photo) pops up and he goes, 'Wow, look at that, that's unbelievable.'

"David Humphreys was the team manager and asked if he could use it and I said go ahead use it wherever you want."

Atoub unsuccessfully tried to contest the ban, which was the second-longest in rugby history for an eye gouge at 70 weeks, and McVeigh's image had to be checked that it was authentic.

"He tried to say he didn't do it, tried everything. My pictures had to be sent off to see that they were authentic.

"He got a 40-page document done to say it was the wrong angle and this, that, and the other.

"I have a Google alert on my phone for Atoub. Every time he's on the internet, I can see what he's saying.

"He said it cost him 100,000 euro in wages and sponsorships and things."

Listen to the GAA Social here, where McVeigh talks about some of his most famous images and about his brother, Columba, who is one of the Disappeared from the Troubles.