DERMOT JAMES, a former company secretary of The Irish Times, has died. Mr James, from Clonskeagh in Dublin, spent his entire working life with the company and went on to write the first major history of the newspaper.
His career began behind the front counter of the advertising department in 1946 taking “small ads” and ended four decades later as company secretary. He also met his future wife Gladys while working at the newspaper.
An accomplished sketch artist, he also produced maps and drawings for the newspaper, a move which later led to the establishment of the graphic studio.
He was an occasional contributor, mainly for the Irishman’s Diary, in the 1940s and 1950s. Mostly his articles related to Germany, including descriptions of the still largely ruined Dresden and historical features on the Reformation and other topics.
Mr James served as assistant to the advertising manager and personal assistant to Irish Times chairman Major Thomas McDowell. He went on to be appointed company secretary to the Irish Times Ltd in 1974 and, later, the Irish Times Trust.
After taking early retirement in 1989, he concentrated on writing and published a number of historical books.
His experience across various sections of the newspaper meant he was well qualified to write the first major history of the newspaper, From the Margins to the Mainstream: A History of The Irish Times, published two years ago.
Mr James died on Sunday at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin. He is survived by his wife Gladys, sister Joan and brother Vivian. His funeral service is to take place today at 11.30am in Sandford parish church in Ranelagh, followed by cremation at Mount Jerome cemetery.
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