Former Shannon Development communications manager honoured by union

FORMER Shannon Development communications manager Colman Garrihy has been honoured for a lifetime of service to the National Union of Journalists.

Mr Garrihy, and the Clare Champion’s sports editor Seamus Hayes, were honoured at a ceremony organised by the NUJ’s Irish South West branch in Ennis.

It comes as the pair both exceed 40 years of service to their trade union.

Colman has been a staunch member of the NUJ since 1972 when he joined the union from the ITGWU.

He began his career in 1970 as a press officer, before progressing over the years to its communications boss, a role he retired from in 1997.

Following this, he went on to set up his own successful business, providing editorial services to a wide range of clients.

The pair now qualify for life membership of the union, an accolade which will be presented next year.

Former Limerick Leader journalist Colm Ward, who up to last week was branch chairman, said: “It is a great pleasure to honour two people who have given so much to the union at chapel and branch level. A union's strength is proportionate to the input of its members and neither Colman nor Seamus have ever been found wanting.”

Leader reporter Norma Prendiville is the new chairman of the NUJ’s local branch.