Five great pieces of writing from Ireland's journalist of the year

This week we in Examiner Towers were proud to salute our very own Michael Clifford as he collected the NewsBrands Journalist of the Year award at the National Journalism Awards 2016.

Fri, 04 Nov, 2016 - 00:00

Irish Examiner digital staff

An Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald was the guest speaker in the Mansion House and said journalists play an in important part in protecting our democracy.

“Journalists play a key role in enhancing transparency and accountability,” she said.

Commenting on the upcoming review of Irish defamation legislation, she said that balance must be sought in public discourse.

“It’s important that we do strike the right balance between two important rights, the right to freedom of expression in a democratic society and the right to protect your good name and reputation against unfounded attack,” she said.

“In politics and in journalism words are our most important tool.

“It was Orwell who maintained that the slovenliness of our language makes it is easier for us to have foolish thoughts.”

In our own little tribute to Michael, we have collected five articles we think shows why his award was so justified.

1. Michael speaks to Frank Mullen, an ex-garda, who wants vindication from wild accusations over the last 10 years.

2. Here, Michael discusses how seeing our favourite bands from our youth live today causes us to reflect.

"We were going to live forever,born to be wild, born just yesterday. Above all, we were never going to turn into our parents."

3. Just 69 refugees from Italy and Greece have been relocated here and as Michael said, 'over there’ isn’t that far anymore.

4. We are no wiser today as to Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan’s position on Maurice McCabe, wrote Michael last May, but it’s enough to know she shared counsel with accused.