Ellard award for ‘labour of love’

“ONE long, beautiful, bountiful labour of love” — the words of retired sports journalist Michael Ellard at a function in Cork yesterday, summing a career extending over four decades with the Irish Examiner and Evening Echo.

He was responding to his selection as the June winner of the Ambassador Hotel sponsored Northside and District Sports award in association with Gerald McCarthy awards and gifts.

Joining him in the celebration, along with Lord Mayor Michael O’Connell and County Mayor Kevin Murphy, were former newspaper colleagues, Cork GAA chairman Jerry O’Sullivan, ex-Munster Council PRO Jim Forbes and a wide circle of friends. GAA President Christy Cooney sent his apologies.