Jim Fahy
Jim Fahy | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Fahy 21 November 1946[1] |
| Died | (aged 75) Tuam,County Galway, Connacht, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | Kilrickle National School De la Salle School, Loughrea Garbally College |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist and broadcaster |
| Years active | 1965–2011 |
| Employer | RTÉ(1974–2011) |
| Known for | Looking West;Western EditorRTÉ News |
| Awards | Jacob's Awardsfor Radio 1984 |
James Fahy(21 November 1946 – 14 January 2022) was an Irish journalist broadcaster, journalist and documentary-maker. He was the Western Editor forRTÉ Newsand was RTÉ's longest-serving regional correspondent at the time of his retirement in 2011.[2]
Early life
[edit]Fahy was born in Kilrickle,County Galway,[3]in 1946.[4]He was educated locally in Kilrickle National School, De la Salle School, Loughrea andGarbally College(1960–1964).[2]He aspired to become a pilot, but instead embarked on a career as a journalist.[5]
Career
[edit]Fahy started working in 1965 forThe Tuam Herald.While working at the paper he wrote a social diary which he calledNitescene.He was looked upon with great respect by his former colleagues at the paper.[5]
Fahy joinedRTÉin 1974 as its first Western News Correspondent.[6]In his early career in this role he reported on events such as the building and controversy ofIreland West Airport Knock,the kidnapping of Don Tidey by the IRA and the affair that local BishopEamon Caseyhad.[7]He is well known for making over 450 editions ofLooking WestforRTÉ Radiobetween 1977 and 1984, a programme about storytellers and musicians in the West of Ireland.[7]It was described byThe Irish Timesas "ground-breaking".[5]
While working forRTÉ News and Current Affairs,Fahy also travelled abroad, making many documentaries, a large number of which featured Irish aid workers.[8]With producerDick Warner,he interviewedMother TeresaofCalcuttain 1976 and journeyed across Africa for documentaries. More recently, he reported fromBelarus,HaitiandSomalia.[5]He was also on the scene of theSeptember 11 attacksand profiled the Irish-American victims of them.[2]In 2002, his documentaryStories from the Twin Towerswon a gold medal at the New York Festivals Television Programming Awards.[7]
Fahy won numerous other awards, including aJacob's Awardin 1984, as well as forty other national and international awards, many with producer Caroline Bleahen.[5][7]
[..] every single thing that happened in the West of Ireland, be it political or cultural or international, the first thing people would say to each other was, 'have you contacted Jim Fahy?' [...]
PresidentMichael D. Higgins,RTÉ News: Six One,31 December 2011.
Fahy was appointed to the position of Western Editor by RTÉ in 2005, and was based in the station'sGalwaystudio.[2]In 2011, he retired along with other high-profile news broadcastersAnne DoyleandMichael Ryan.[9]He worked for the station for 37 years and was accomplished as the longest-serving regional news correspondent.[5]His final news report was broadcast on RTÉ on 31 December 2011.[10]A tribute was paid to him from PresidentMichael D. Higgins,who said that he would be "missed" and that he has a "seductive charm".[6]
Personal life
[edit]Fahy was married to Christina until his death.[11]Together, they had two children: Shane and Aideen.[12][13]
Fahy died at his home inTuamon 14 January 2022, at the age of 75.[13][11][14][15]
References
[edit]- ^"Jim Fahy obituary: Western editor with a huge zest for stories".Irish Times.21 January 2022.Retrieved24 January2022.
- ^abcd"Jim Fahy: A Biography".A Hundred Dead People In My Truck.RTÉ Television. 9 December 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 14 October 2013.Retrieved17 January2022.
- ^"WESTERN JOURNALIST RETIRES AFTER 46 YEAR CAREER".Galway Bay FM.31 December 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 13 January 2012.Retrieved31 December2011.
- ^McGrath, Pat (15 January 2022)."Correspondent who cast his net wide in search of stories".RTÉ.Retrieved16 January2022.
- ^abcdefSiggins, Laura (31 December 2011)."Award-winning RTÉ western editor closes a 46-year career".The Irish Times.Retrieved31 December2011.
- ^abBarry, Aoife."President Higgins pays tribute to RTÉ's Jim Fahy".TheJournal.ie.Retrieved31 December2011.
- ^abcdMcDonald, Brian (31 December 2011)."Fahy heads into the west after almost 40 years on air".Irish Independent.Archived fromthe originalon 17 February 2013.Retrieved31 December2011.
- ^"RADHARC AWARD 2006 PRESENTED TO 'When You Say 4,000 Goodbyes'"(PDF).RADHARC.5 May 2006. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 22 February 2012.Retrieved31 December2011.
- ^McDonald, Brian (31 December 2011)."RTÉ's Jim calls it a day after 50 years in journalism".Evening Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 17 February 2013.Retrieved31 December2011.
- ^"Six One News: Western Editor Jim Fahy signs off on final report".Raidió Teilifís Éireann.31 December 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2012.Retrieved31 December2011.
- ^abPower, Jack (15 January 2022)."Former RTÉ western editor Jim Fahy dies".The Irish Times.Dublin.Retrieved16 January2022.
- ^"Statement of Archbishop Michael Neary on the death of Jim Fahy RIP".Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 15 January 2022.Retrieved16 January2022.
- ^ab"Jim Fahy Obituary".Connacht Tribune.15 January 2022.Retrieved16 January2022– viaLegacy.com.
- ^McGrath, Pat (15 January 2022)."Tributes paid to 'voice of the west of Ireland' Jim Fahy".RTÉ.Retrieved16 January2022.
- ^Moloney, Eoghan (15 January 2022)."Fond tributes as former RTÉ correspondent Jim Fahy dies after short illness".Irish Independent.Dublin.Retrieved16 January2022.