Kennedy appointment makes history

GERALDINE KENNEDY has been appointed editor of The Irish Times, becoming the first female editor of a national daily newspaper.

Ms Kennedy was also the first Irish staff journalist to become an elected representative and later return to political journalism. She was a Progressive Democrat TD for Dun Laoghaire from February 1987 until her defeat in the general election of June 1989.

Ms Kennedy, 51, has worked with the Irish Times since 1990 and was most recently political editor of that newspaper. She began her journalism career with Examiner Publications in Cork before going on to become Ireland’s first female political corespondent with The Sunday Tribune.