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Inishowen to receive ashes of RTE
chief 01.09.08
INISHOWEN will receive
the ashes next weekend of the late Jim McGuinness
former RTÉ head of news.
Jim, who was a native of Derry, was married to
Carndonagh woman, Sally (nee Mariner).
In a long and distinguished career in journalism, he
served as editor of the Irish Press and the RTÉ
Guide before becoming head of RTÉ News in the late
1960s.
He was responsible for a major expansion of RTÉ news
coverage including the introduction of programmes
such as 'This Week' and the 'News at One'. |
Paying tribute to him,
RTÉ director general Cathal Goan said the late
Derryman was head of news at a "very turbulent and
challenging time".
He said his legacy was particularly clear during
this, the 40th anniversary of the start of the Civil
Rights movement in Northern Ireland.
Jim started his career in London with the Irish News
Agency and 'The Irish Press'. He later edited 'The
Irish Press' before moving to San Francisco, where
he was an award-winning |
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journalist. In 1961 he
returned to Ireland to join the national broadcaster
as head of information.
He served as head of news at the station from 1966
until 1974, a period when RTE’s coverage of Northern
Ireland-related events was under intense political
scrutiny.
Mr McGuinness’s funeral at St Brigid’s Church,
Cabinteely, Co Dublin last week was packed with
family, friends and former colleagues.
The eulogy was given by Desmond Fisher, former head
of current affairs at RTE who described him as “like
an elder brother”.
“It is fair to say that Jim was a very genuine
republican nationalist with a love of his country
that could be described as almost missionary in its
zeal.
“Undoubtedly, this zeal in part motivated his
demands that the northern Troubles be reported,
analysed and explained as fully as the situation
merited.
“At the same time he spoke as a serious and
fair-minded journalist who could see what was
coming," said Mr Fisher. Jim is survived by his
wife, Sally; sons, Pearse and Niall; and daughter,
Mary. His ashes are expected to arrive in Carndonagh
at the weekend to be laid to rest. Details of the
ceremony are still to be confirmed. |
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