Cork set to welcome leading sports journalists

LEADING journalists from Ireland, Britain and the US will assemble in Cork next week for a fascinating one-day conference on the art of sports-writing.

The conference, organised by the Cork City Library and the Irish Examiner, and part of the European Capital of Culture programme, takes place at the Clarion Hotel in Cork next Tuesday, November 8.

It will address many of the key issues in modern day sports journalism, and will feature leading writers from such acclaimed publications as Sports Illustrated, The Sunday Times, The Observer, the Irish Times and the Irish Examiner.

Former Irish rugby star and Lions manager Donal Lenihan will also address the conference on playing and writing - the different perspectives.

Other speakers include Tom Humphries, who has won the Irish Sports Journalist of the Year title three times, and David Walsh, who has won that accolade four times and its British equivalent three times.

Overseas speakers include John Garrity of Sports Illustrated, who has written over two dozen books on golf; Amy Lawrence of The Observer, a specialist in European football, and Simon Lovell, deputy editor of the Press Association since 2000.

Each speaker will address a separate topic. Liam Mackey will begin the conference on Tuesday morning by outlining the life of a football correspondent, while Tom Humphries will discuss the relationship between the GAA and the media.

Simon Lovell will give an insight into the workings of the busiest sports desk in Britain and Ireland with the Press Association, while David Walsh will dwell on investigative sports reporting.

After lunch Amy Lawrence, an avowed Arsenal fan, will address the conference on being a “fan with a laptop”, while Garrity will elaborate on the experience of shadowing Tiger Woods and other golf tour superstars.

The conference will close with an open forum chaired by Irish Examiner deputy sports editor Colm O’Connor, and will also provide tips and advice for students wishing to pursue a career in sportswriting.

Irish Examiner sports editor Tony Leen said yesterday:

“I have always felt there is a huge market for this type of project in Ireland. We are a sports-mad nation and there is a particular fascination with sports-writing.

“We’re delighted to be associated with the conference which should be of interest to general sports fans, journalists and journalism students.”

* Because the attendance is restricted to 200 people, there are only a small number of places still available for the conference. Those interested should contact the Cork City Library at 021-4924900 or e-mail [e-mail].