Guardians of Democracy

Lifetime honour awards for local journalists and photographers

SEVERAL faces of The Tuam Herald were honoured by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at a ceremony in Galway last Friday.

Staff photographer Ray Ryan and journalist Tom Gilmore were among eight NUJ members to be presented with Life Membership awards.

Hosted by the NUJ West of Ireland Branch, members from Galway and Mayo came together at the PorterShed in Galway city to honour colleagues who have remained committed to the union for 40 years or more.

And in a congratulatory message to recipients, President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to their dedication to local journalism “as guardians of our democracy at its grassroots”.

Abbeyknockmoy’s Francis Farragher, who spent time in his early career with The Tuam Herald and is Farming Editor of The Connacht Tribune, received an award as did his Tribune colleagues Bernie Ní Fhlatharta, John McIntyre, and photographer Joe O’Shaughnessy.

Máirtín Davy Ó Coisdealbha, formerly of Raidió na Gaeltachta, and Westport-based photographer Frank Dolan were also presented with Life Membership…

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