Late Noel Smith

Like all others, I was shocked to learn of Noel’s death in Limerick last week.

He had retired only a year or so from Independent Newspapers and his unexpected passing cast gloom in the journalistic field - an area he had served with distinction for several decades.

A gifted pianist and linguist, I came to know Noel in the formative years of the Munster Press Golf Society and I had the pleasure of presenting him with my captain's prize in 1979.