By Eoin Meegan
Serving the community since 1986 and spanning the contrasting demographic that is Dublin 4, NewsFour is both communal and cosmopolitan; reflecting real stories about real people throughout our community. Let us pause and acknowledge its early pioneers: Ann Ingle, Dermot Lacey and Dennis McKenna, among others, whose great spirit and dedication started it all off. NewsFour has evolved over the years, while still managing to retain that umbilical connection to its roots. It has been a great privilege for me to be part of that evolution for almost a decade now, first as a journalist, and later as editor. It was an honour to tell others’ stories, and act as a conduit for their voices, while working with so many talented people.
And as this is the issue where I bow out, I’d like to pay tribute to some of those here now. First, our current journalists: Louise, Niamh, Brian, Ray, Rory, and Dylan. I am always in awe at the very high standard of the copy I get from you. There is an intellectual rigour about your work, but also a lot of heart. So take a bow guys. I would also like to pay tribute to former journalists and photographers who worked for NewsFour during my time. I can’t start naming names or I’m sure to leave someone out, but you know who you are. Special thanks to our photographer Ian whose pictures infuse life into the stories. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and Ian’s camera can capture the perfect moment for all time. Special thanks too to Kieron who does the work of actually putting the paper together, and who has always been so patient over the years, putting up with my finicky last minute changes even when we were ready to go to press. It’s been a pleasure working with you. Thanks too, to our hugely talented Graphic Designer, and Sales Manager, Oksana and Nataliia, to Rose who never tires of ensuring those hard to reach places outside the official drop get the paper, and to Vivian in the office, your smile lights up everyone’s day. Finally, I would especially like to thank Susan Daly, the manager of Sandymount Community Services, your kindness, sage advice, and great support has made my task manifestly easier over the years.
There have been many changes throughout my tenure at NewsFour while old favourites remained. A big innovation was Peeling Back The Pages. We were sitting in the office brainstorming ideas one morning when someone suggested doing a pictorial feature culled from past issues. It turned out to be a big hit. I think people like seeing themselves 20 years younger! While a constant has been our poetry page. I’m glad NewsFour gives a platform to our poets and writers whose print coverage seems to be diminishing alarmingly elsewhere; I was always happy to support that. Thank you to all our readers, and advertisers, whose loyal support has made this paper the vibrant voice of the community it is. Finally, may I congratulate Louise Whelan who takes over as editor. Louise is hard working, dedicated, and has a thorough knowledge of the area. I’m confident NewsFour will be in very good hands.
So now, all that’s left for me to say then is, so long, and thanks for all the fish.
