Journalist and author Walsh laid to rest

THE funeral took place in Limerick yesterday of journalist and public relations figure Dermot Walsh.

Mr Walsh, who was 65, died after battling cancer over the past 13 years.

A native of Wexford, he served as editor of The People newspaper in Wexford, and also worked the Sunday Independent and the Irish Press group for which he was Mid-West Correspondent for a number of years.

Mr Walsh was a strong advocate of Shannon airport and for years played a major role in promoting the airport when he was press officer with Shannon Development.

He was the author of six books which included Tragedy on the Tusker Rock, which dealt with the Aer Lingus Viscount crash off the Wexford coast, and The Honour of Jerry McCabe. He books also include a recently published history of Shannon.

Dermot was a hugely popular figure among Limerick journalists and, when he worked at the Irish Press office in Davis Street, he regularly held court at his ‘local’, the Railway Hotel, around the corner in Parnell Street.

As well as working in PR with Shannon Development, he did public relations work for the Rose of Tralee festival and the Treaty 300 celebrations in Limerick.

Among those who attended the funeral yesterday were Minister of State Peter Power, former government ministers, Michael J Noonan and Tom O’Donnell, Mrs Ann McCabe and former colleagues at Shannon Development.

The many journalists and former colleagues present included Arthur Quinlan, Cathy Halloran, Mid-West Correspondent RTÉ; and Alan English, editor Limerick Leader.

Mr Walsh is survived by his wife, Joyce, son Emmet and daughter Grainne.

He was buried at Shannon.