FRANK O'DEA:FRANK O'DEA, who has died aged 80, was editor of the Clare Championfor 35 years, a community activist dedicated to helping the poor and underprivileged, and one of the best-known journalists in the midwest.
Belying the hard-nosed image of journalists, he was a member of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Ennis and a founding member of the local Lions Club.
He was also a founder and former president of the Franciscan Musical Society, a fine classical pianist and an amateur genealogist, archaeologist, fisherman and golfer.
O’Dea was born at the Weir in Kilcolgan, Co Galway. He was educated at Clarinbridge National School and the Franciscan College, Multyfarnham, the precursor of Gormanston College.
Opting for a career in journalism, he joined the Connaught Tribuneas a trainee reporter at the age of 18, covering news and sport during his 10-year spell at the paper.
Headhunted by the Clare Champion,O'Dea joined the paper as news editor in 1959 and was appointed editor two years later, a post he held until his retirement in 1996.
Witnessing major changes in technology, including the shift from hot metal to modern web-offset printing in the course of his 37 years with the Champion, he oversaw the development and expansion of the weekly paper.
In a tribute, Austin Hobbs, the Champion'scurrent editor, described O'Dea as a man of integrity, a progressive journalist and a mentor of young reporters.
“He upheld the best traditions and principles of his chosen profession,” Hobbs said. “His honesty and sense of fairness shone through in the manner he dealt with individuals and issues throughout his career.”
Through the local conference of St Vincent de Paul, O’Dea helped the needy and his daughter Hilary recalls wrapping presents for people who otherwise would have had no family visitors on Christmas Day. In the Lions Club, O’Dea also played an active part in fundraising for charities. He was president of the organisation in Ennis and a member of the Lions international board.
O’Dea’s hobbies included fishing, especially at sea and for brown trout. A social golfer, he was a member of the Ennis and Lahinch clubs. Having played hurling for Galway as a minor, he was interested in most sports but especially in GAA games.
Fair-minded as a father, O’Dea will be remembered as a loving family man. Sadly, following such an active life, he developed Alzheimer’s disease a few years after retiring at the age of 69.
As his health deteriorated, his wife, Sally, gave up her career as a registered nurse and for five years cared for him on a full-time basis at home before he entered residential care.
O’Dea is survived by Sally, sons John, Eamon and Paul, daughters Hilary and Ursula, and brothers Martin, Joseph and Colga.
Frank O’Dea: born October 5th, 1930; died May 31st, 2011