WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE 1995
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY RECOGNISES XPRESS
A day after solicitors acting on behalf of Irish Press
management threatened us with an injunction and described
our titles as "certain documents which purport to
publications," The XPress has received the seal of approval
from no less august a body than the National Library.
More...
Published by The Irish Press NUJ, Liberty Hall. Origination by Malcolm Kindness, Telephone 4962551.
There's another group of people in the North who are missing the former Irish Press newspapers and they're behind bars. According to reliable security sources, prisoners in Long Kesh and Maghaberry were avid readers of the Press papers, finding that their Northern coverage reflected a different, and more authentic, view of the peace process than the other national papers. Well-thumbed copies of the Irish and Sunday Press papers would pass from cell to cell, circulating through the H- Block wings throughout the week. Some copies some trepidation. were read by up to 40 prisoners. Now they are having to make do with other papers, although word of the XPress has filtered through and plans are now under way to get copies of the XPress into the two jails following requests. Meanwhile, not having signed on as unemployed since the days of Jim Callaghan, and assuming a much hardened attitude by dole clerks as a result of the Thatcher years, northern editor Anne Cadwallader approached her local employment exchange in Andersonstown, west Belfast with Having made an appointment (you can't just walk in off the street in the North anymore) and found the office, tucked behind the famous "Busy Bee" shopping centre (scene of many a lively Republican rally), she took her place in the queue and began filling out multifarious forms. Rut our intrepid hackette - married to the former Irish Press deputy news editor Gerry O'Hare - need not have worried. One glance at the unusual moniker enjoyed by our northern editor was enough to gather a small cluster of office workers around to offer sympathy. Anne was amazed to find staff recognised her instantly from her Press picture bylines. "We're already missing your column," she was told. "We've nothing to read on Sundays any more, there's a lot of people talking about it. The Sunday Press is really missed, I can tell you straight," said one. Cadwallader left with a glow on her cheek and a spring in her step but like all the other 160 workers, with out a penny of unemployment benefit in her pocket.
NIGHTMARE ON KILDARE STREET - DEV'S
REVENGE!THE Long Fellow has been turning in his grave for weeks now, to no avail. Being an even less excitable chap in death than in life, it started off as just a twitch or two, a mere rustle in the silence of Glasnevin. But by the time the Little Guy had got around to sending a solicitor's letter in a bid to stop publication of the true heir to his beloved Irish Press, Grandaddy was almost spinning. A midnight clip on the ear for the wayward scion was considered, but disregarded. The innumerable heftier clouts that had been administered over the years seemed to have caused a certain numbness. And so, out of the bright Kildare Street sunlight, Dev materialised like a Celtic Clint Eastwood, to stand with the people.
In heavy black coat and trademark homburg, brandishing the brighter new-look XPress, the years fell away, and he was back on the campaign trail raising cash to right the imbalance in the Irish media. "Anyone buying or selling shares," the Irish Press founder called to bewildered passers at the crossroads. Taciturn and pure of thought as ever, but with a turn of phrase undulled by decades of silence, Dev gave his unqualified seal of approval to the XPress. "I'd like to thank you all for your efforts to save my ancient and beloved organ" said Dev to the assembled media throng. An American in full day-glo sweat suit dived for his camcorder, but seemed not to have quite caught the historical significance of the moment. Even when the Long Fellow turned on the charm that 60 years ago had our transatlantic cousins diving for their wallets, Day-Glo's dollars stayed firmly in his pocket. But Dev was undaunted. Striding across the street to stand with his own Dail Eireann in the background, his air of authority was enough to bring the traffic on Kildare Street to a standstill with a single wave of the Dev hand. Never were election leaflets as eagerly taken from his hands as the citizens of Dublin snapped up the new-look XPress. Pride may be a fault of the third generation, but decades of traipsing around the highways and byways of Co Clare ensured that the original of the species had no such hang-up. "Copies of the XPress, anybody else for a copy of the XPress," he called in the familiar nasal tone.
A day after solicitors acting on behalf of Irish Press
management threatened us with an injunction and
described our titles as "certain documents which purport
to be publications," The XPress has received the seal of
approval from no less august a body than the National
Library Of Ireland. In a letter to the NUJ, Donall 6
Luanaigh, The Keeper of the National Library, points out
that the Library is "acutely aware of the importance of
newspapers as a major source of history at all levels -
international, national and local." The letter goes on:
"Thus we are anxious that the present dispute in the Irish
Press Group may be resolved to the satisfaction of the
staff and that all the newspapers may continue to be
published." Having given the Irish Press workers that vote
of confidence, Mr 6 Luanaigh then refers to publication of
The XPress and emphasises that the library "would very
much like to receive copies of this, together with any
associated posters and handbills." Needless to say, we are
very happy to oblige.
THE debate opened up by the struggle for survival faced
by the Irish Press group has forced Irish people to ask
questions about the role newspapers play in Irish life, Arts
and Culture Minister Michael D Higgins says in an
introduction to a new book on the media. "Headlines and
Deadlines", written by former Irish l'ress journalist Aileen
O'Meara and her sister Kathleen, a former journalist and
now special adviser to Junior Finance Minister Eithne
Fitzgerald, went to the printers on the day 600 Irish Press
workers were laid off and locked out. "The Irish Press is
very important in terms of the diversity and culture of Irish
society," Aileen told The XPress at the launch of the book
last night. "We hope the papers will be back on the streets
quite soon." The authors say Headlines and Dead lines
(Blackwater Press) is the first definitive guide to the Irish
media and gives a detailed overview of the print and
broadcasting sectors. At the launch of the book attended
by journalists, politicians and media analysts tribute was
paid to the Irish Press workers who are fighting to keep
the papers alive.
NEIL JORDAN FILM NIGHT
Acclaimed Irish film-maker Neil Jordan will deliver an
address on the issue of Freedom of Speech prior to a
special showing of The Crying Game in the Adelphi 4, at
8.30, tomorrow. Admission is £4.50 and all proceeds are
in aid of The Press journalists' Fund.
Along with all your other top XPress writers, Con is now available on the Internet as The XPress boldly voyages down the information superhighway, giving our soarway titles an estimated worldwide audience of 60 million readers (give or take a million). Please note that our XPress email address is: http://www.adnet.ie/Adnet/XPress.htm
A Radical Table Quiz - "For Lefties, liberals and leftovers!" - will take place in the Teachers' Club, Parnell Square, tonight at 8.30pm. Admission is £3.00 per head and all proceeds will go to the Press Journalists' Support Fund. Everyone welcome.
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