Death of former 'Irish Times' journalist

TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to former Irish Times sports journalist, Seán Kilfeather, who has died in Dublin.

Mr Kilfeather (70) was boxing correspondent and also wrote on other sports, particularly Gaelic games. He wrote a popular weekly sports column, known as Fifth Column , for many years. In 2003, he was awarded the GAA's McNamee Hall of Fame award.

A native of Co Sligo, he began his journalistic career with the Sligo Champion. He later worked abroad for a number of years, before returning to Dublin to work with the Evening Mail and Sunday Review . When those papers closed, he joined RTÉ, moving to the sports department of The Irish Times in 1974.

His work at various levels for the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) was honoured when he was made a life member in 2002.

GAA president Nickey Brennan said Mr Kilfeather's "unique writing style and his knowledge of literature endeared him to readers throughout his career".

NUJ Irish secretary Séamus Dooley said he had remained loyal to NUJ principles and strove to promote the union wherever he went. "He loved sports, music, song, literature but above all else, he revelled in good company," Mr Dooley added.

He is survived by his sisters, Mary, Lily and Noreen, his brothers, Jim and Eddie, and his nephews and nieces.

He will repose at Rom Massey and Sons funeral home in Dolphin's Barn, between noon and 2pm tomorrow. There will be a cremation service afterwards at Mount Jerome crematorium at 2.30pm.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times