Marking a (half!) lifetime of memories at the Leitrim Observer

It says something about a workplace when you spend nearly half of your life in the same job. That’s what I’ve done, spending 23 years as a reporter with the Leitrim Observer.

But my time here is coming to an end this month. Not only am I leaving the Observer, I am leaving the industry behind as well.

In my time I’ve worked under Scottish Radio Holdings, Johnson Press and most recently, under the ownership of Iconic Newspapers, but my colleagues have, largely, remained the same since I began in October 2000.

It is these colleagues and the inspirational people I have met, interviewed many of whom I am now blessed to call friends - they are what I will miss most when I close my laptop for the final time.

The industry has changed in so many ways since I started. News is now more accessible, more immediate. The skillset for journalists has changed from shorthand notes, interviewing, writing and proofing copy to incorporate layout and design, video and editing, as well as dealing with social media. We work within a vastly changed workplace, especially post-Covid.

Starting in October 2000, all we had to worry about was finding and writing stories for the weekly paper. The workload increased with the production of two publications a week when The Weekender was launched and even more so with the introduction of digital platforms.

It was a baptism by fire, moving systems, tackling changing technology and still getting the paper out, but we did.

When I look back at our paper's history, that really comes as no surprise. The Leitrim Observer was always a leader in the industry.

It is a source of immense pride for me that I have been with the Leitrim Observer during the introduction of new technology.

Despite the challenges we faced, we have continued to provide news to our readership here and abroad; to those who have historic Leitrim links and to a newer community of ex-pats who have emigrated to other lands....like my parents did 50 years ago when they headed for Australia.

But alongside the challenges, there have also been plenty of opportunities brought about by the changes. I had the chance to start my own column. I was able to take on new roles and responsibilities including serving as farming editor and features editor.

None of that would have been possible without the support and encouragement of my colleagues.

I won’t lie, there have been tough times, experiences that have made me reconsider my job but thankfully, they have been few.

I still keep a drawer containing each thank you letter and card I have received. Each is treasured. Those thank you notes have buoyed me at times when it was difficult to be a journalist. They are already packed for safekeeping.

Last week I was asked what I would do, now that I don't have to write any more. And the truth is that I cannot see myself ever having a day where I don't write something. The difference now will be the audience, now I'll be writing for myself. But I have to admit, a part of me will miss the excitement of elections, the bustle of courts and council meetings, the camaraderie of the office....the editorial weekly lunch in Cryans!

For a long time now journalism has been not just a career, it's been a way of life. I've organised holidays in between main council meetings or around the busy periods of Christmas, Easter and elections.

It will be odd to finally get a Bank Holiday Monday off. We've all become so used to working them that the thoughts of a new one doesn't so much as raise an eyebrow in our office!

To Claire, Donal, John, Frankie, Fiona, Willie, Melanie, Millie, Lauren and Carmel, who have been my Observer family - in the majority of cases, since the very start of my tenure with the paper - I thank you. To the many other colleagues who I have had the honour of working alongside over the past years - and I will make a special mention of Gerry, Della, Regina, Sinead, Martha and Philip - who worked with me in my final office at The Courtyard, but have also moved on to pastures new - Thank You. To all those who I have worked with over the past, near quarter century. You are not forgotten. No one could ask for finer colleagues, for better friends.

Finally, to everyone who has played a part in my career here in the Observer over the last 23 years, a big thank you and a very fond farewell.