Why, at 67, I did a week of work experience at The Echo

Growing up in rural Kerry in the 1960s, it was always my dream to become a journalist.

Reading newspapers such as The Kerryman and listening to RTÉ Radio 1 ignited my passion for news.

Life took me on a different route, but this week, aged 67, I finally got to live a bit of my dream.

My father died in 1968, leaving my West Cork mother with six children on a small farm. My mother decided that rather than pursue an unstable career in a challenging environment, I would pursue a safe job. I fulfilled that role for 40 years in Revenue: dependable, enjoyable enough, and important for the country.

However, I always thought - what might have been?

I am studying Level 5 Journalism at Douglas Street Campus, an excellent course, part of which involves a work experience placement. Mine was with The Echo and Irish Examiner at their Blackpool office - next door from where I retired eight years ago! Funny how things turn out.

Monday kicked off in the podcast studio where two intrepid sports journalists, Barry O’Mahony and Denis Hurley, expertly interviewed by Éamonn Murphy, dissected the entrails of the weekend’s GAA club and county hurling and football league matches, in particular Cork’s significant away win over Kilkenny and the battering the footballers endured away to Derry.

I was impressed by their passion for merely league games. Who knows what they will be like for the Championship series?

Afterwards, we were also shown some of the background work on computer, keyboard and large screens.

Next up, Rory Noonan of The Echo showed us how the paper gets to look how it does, demonstrating how the graphics team tease readers to inside stories, as well as showing us how the newspapers plan supplements such as Future Cork.

Visual Media Manager of The Echo and Irish Examiner, Jim Coughlan showed us the evolution of a story: from the submission of the journalist to the editing process, and the additions of photographs and captions.

On Tuesday, we attended the Anglesea Street Criminal Courts. Courts reporter, Liam Heylin, outlined the protocol. We were to observe the various court officials, defendants and gardaí in their work as we were learning an important role in our trade.

We began in the Circuit Court, where there were a variety of indictable cases. An alleged serious assault on an individual was progressed. The next visit was to the District Court where the most minor cases were held.

The afternoon began with the opening of a trial for manslaughter in the Central Criminal Court. The demeanour of the court was appropriately sombre but respectful. A garda present at the crime scene gave evidence.

I was struck with the realisation that I was witnessing an account of a fatal, pivotal event which affected so many lives.

Wednesday saw me shadowing a journalist with the Irish Examiner, Sarah Horgan, as she submitted story ideas for an editorial meeting. There, a dozen journalists were queried by an editor on the wide variety of stories they pitched.

Sarah proposed a piece about a stained-glass artist living in Leitrim. She also planned an interview with a man from Zimbabwe living in Cork who recently acquired Irish citizenship.

Sarah conducted a phone interview with the stained-glass artist, Colette Langan. She moved to England as a 19-year-old, where she won commissions for work in famous palaces and cathedrals, like Westminster Abbey, Winchester Cathedral, and also small churches.

She restored windows for Windsor Castle during the Troubles but did not get clearance to work within. She feels this may be indirectly connected to some anti-Irish feeling at the time.

I was taken aback by how conflict affects many people indirectly. Colette says the main thing is her work got in there.

We met the man from Zimbabwe in person with his nine-year-old son, to outline their separate odysseys to Ireland. He touched on some of the political reasons that influenced him leaving, and his joy at being reunited with his son after a seven-year absence.

They are looking forward to their first St Patrick’s Day parade together.

On Thursday, I began writing this article working from home, an option unfortunately not available in my long career!

Friday was simply a relaxing photography session with Chani Anderson to commemorate my experience. The results can be seen here!

I left with the sense that I would have loved this profession to have been my life, giving people who are interested a balanced view on politics and human-interest stories.

My week was thoroughly enjoyable and informative, confirming the feelings of that young lad in Kerry.

I may not have fulfilled every word of Old Blue Eyes’ song, but this week at least “I did it my way”.