I’ll shed no tears that the O’Reilly monopoly on Irish journalism is no more.
The resignation of Gavin O’Reilly as MD of Independent Newspapers ends an almost 40-year period when the family dominated the Irish media – and dragged it into the muck.
The O’Reillys, led by father Sir Anthony, had very specific agendas. All the newspapers opposed Irish nationalism and were neo-Unionist on editorial approach.
This led to a viciously anti-peace process attitude when it started up.
Fact is, the Sunday Independent newspaper, in particular, did its level best to destroy the Irish peace process.
In one horrific instance, the Sunday Independent printed no fewer than fifteen articles against Nobel Laureate John Hume because he dared to meet with Gerry Adams and set the peace process in motion.
The anti Nationalist bias is continued even today, after the overwhelming success of the peace process.
It is as if Ian Paisley did not make his peace with Martin McGuinness, that the violence has not stopped and that no inspirational message to the world has gone out.
Regardless of the amazing success story, week after week the Sunday Independent stable of anti-nationalist columnists continue their screeds.
One can only imagine their consternation at this week’s Irish Times poll showing Sinn Fein now as the second largest party in the Irish Republic.
The likes of columnist Eoghan Harris appear to think that the war is not yet over and must be fought, like that Japanese soldier long ago who emerged from the jungle years after the end of hostilities.
The Independent group under O’Reilly picked favorites.
They beat the drum for the Celtic Tiger, even when it was clearly on the decline and gleefully celebrated the excesses of the property developers and others as if they were Ireland’s saviors.
Now they point the finger of blame at those same people, shameless to the last.
Hopefully the new broom will put responsible journalism back on the agenda at Independent News.
Denis O' Brien is a man deeply respected and admired in American business and philantropic cirlces, who has reached out to distressed countries such as Haiti in remarkable fashion.
He will have little time for the petty vendettas the Independent pursued under O'Reilly.
There are many fine journalists there and their input is badly needed..
7 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.peterson | Apr 23, 2012, 01:59 PM EDT
He has his good points and bad points, "Don't we all ?"
kevinhayes | Apr 23, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT
Niall - this article is incomplete. You say nothing of the real background of Denis O'Brien who bribed an Irish Government minister to get a mobile phone license, the basis of his fortune, and controls several Irish radio stations. We have a budding Berlusconi/Murdoch situation on our hands and you say nothing? I do notice you say that O'Brien is '"deeply respected and admired in AMERICAN (my emphasis) business circles" - you could not say this about Irish business circles, where the man is much better known.
IrelandNorth | Apr 23, 2012, 07:55 AM EDT
Violence is the language of the unheard. Freedom of the press doesn't mean for tabloidised broadsheets to engage in designer propaganda, as did the [Anglo-]Irish [Co-]dependent for so long under Sir Anthony A. J. F. O'Reilly's stewardship. How objective could a glorified gossip sheet be when owned and controlled by an super-rich Irishman, (clearly overcompensating his adoption status) who was knighted by the Queen? His newspaper (sic) engaged in conspicuous encitement to hatred of the Ulster/Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister's Irish Presidential election bid last Autumn, thereby subverting the course of democracy, causing the Right Honourable Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA, (like Al Gore before him), to be the best president Ireland never had.
Pat 11 | Apr 23, 2012, 01:20 AM EDT
This is an excellent article Niall and sums up the feeling of Irish people who are awake .Unfortunately Irish people are way too trusting in the Dublin West Brit media and don't see their bullshit agenda ,why ? because they are good and trusting people who still think that the media is non-partisan .There are anti-Irish blogs set up by so called unionist who pass themselves off as Irish and knock anything Irish in the most underhand and twisted manner and comments to Irish newspapers and forums are bombarded by unionist putting down all things Irish with their warped sense of entitlement .It is simply unbelievable that complete fools like Harris and Myers and his twisted cohorts are allowed to day in day out regurgitate they same old anti Irish free state ,like it was some sort of mistake .We like America are proud we kicked out the unwanted bloody british empire in most of Ireland . I hope Dennis O and Dermot Desmond kick these anti-Irish fools to the curb .
seanomelb | Apr 22, 2012, 07:46 PM EDT
Niall's analogy of the Japanese soldier applies very well to the anti Irish naysayers who post on IC.Heres hoping we've heard the last of Harris,Cusack,Dudley Edwards and the rest of the anti nationalist west Brit types.
esatdigiwank | Apr 22, 2012, 02:12 PM EDT
He's not Sir Tony OReilly for nothing. Now he has more time for oil exploration. Of an oil field he's just privatised for himself. In Ireland, the Greater Good don't matter a jot - It is not the top bidder. Don't stick around.
Searlit | Apr 22, 2012, 01:41 PM EDT
One can only hope, Niall.