Madam, – No appraisal of the role of The Irish Timesin the cultural life of Ireland over the past 150 years should neglect the generosity, commitment and positive bias of its then editor Douglas Gageby and his reporters in the coverage of the excavations at Wood Quay, Dublin between 1974 and 1981 inclusive.
Building on links between the paper and the museum’s excavations done by my predecessor Breandán Ó Ríordáin from 1962 onwards, I am proud to put on record my gratitude for the reports of great professionals such as Michael Viney (Good Friday, 1975), Dick Grogan and a succession of amazing women reporters including Ella Shanahan (surely the best-dressed visitor ever to an archaeological site), Caroline Walsh, Elgy Gillespie (who opted to become embedded with our crew) and especially the marvellous Olivia O’Leary who believed me about the importance of what we were finding. Nor can I forget the work of photographers such as Tom Lawlor, Paddy Whelan, Pat Langan and others.
The Wood Quay excavations could not have been pursued to the extent that they were without the interest and support of The Irish Times. Bless all who sail in her for another century and a half.
– Yours, etc,
Madam, – I think the unidentified person in the photograph with John Ryan, Anthony Cronin, Flann O’Brien and Patrick Kavanagh in
The Irish Times
150th anniversary commemorative magazine (page 75) may be the artist Con Leventhal.
Thanks for all those memories recalled in the magazine. Here’s to the next 150 years.
– Yours, etc,