Tributes paid following death of farming journalism stalwart

Tributes came in from the worlds of politics and agriculture following the unexpected death of one of the country’s best-known farming journalists.

Seán MacConnell, 66, who retired as agriculture correspondent at the Irish Times last year, passed away yesterday at St James’s Hospital in Dublin.

Mr MacConnell began his journalistic career at the Roscommon Champion in the 60s before joining the Roscommon Herald, Free Press Wexford, and the Irish Press in Dublin.

Irish Times editor Kevin O’Sullivan described Mr MacConnell as an outstanding journalist of his generation, initially with the Irish Press group and subsequently with the Irish Times from March 1986.

“As agriculture correspondent for more than 25 years, he was known in every corner of Ireland,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

Agriculture and food minister Simon Coveney described Mr MacConnell as a constant at every agricultural event who “will be sorely missed by all members of the greater agriculture family”.

Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists Séamus Dooley said the Fermanagh native was “a force of nature, a passionate journalist with a huge commitment to social justice”.

“That burning commitment was reflected in his journalism, in his trade union activity and in his singing. His death is a sad loss to his family and all who knew Seán,” he said.

The president of the Irish Farmers’ Association, John Bryan, said: “Seán made an outstanding contribution to the reporting of agriculture in Ireland for over 20 years.”

“He had a great empathy for rural people and loved the countryside. He was always a strong advocate for agriculture and rural communities. He was also wonderful company, a great storyteller and singer.”

Ireland East MEP Máiréad McGuinness said Mr MacConnell loved and understood the land, farming, and nature, and that he communicated that love exceptionally well in his long and distinguished career.

“He had a wonderful way with words,” she said. “His voice had a particular resonance to it. His work brought farming and food to a wider audience. He was excellent company and could find a song for every occasion, even writing many of his own as the occasion demanded.”

Macra na Feirme national president Kieran O’Dowd said Seán “dealt with the topic of agriculture in a way that made its various constituent parts more accessible to the non farming community”, while ICMSA president John Comer said his writing was “considered definitive”.

“Seán MacConnell was a superb journalist and his writing on every subject, not just farming or agri-business, was engaging and brilliant,” said Mr Comer.

Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association president Gabriel Gilmartin also expressed his sympathy to the MacConnell family, saying the husband and father “demonstrated a sharp insight into the agri-food sector and was a keen observer of its politics”.