John Healy (Irish journalist) facts for kids

John Healy (born 1930, died 1991) was an Irish journalist. He came from a town called Charlestown in County Mayo, Ireland. He wrote for important newspapers like the Western People and The Irish Times.

John Healy's Journalism Career

Starting as a Journalist

John Healy began his career in 1948 at the Western People newspaper. Later, he moved to Dublin to work for the Irish News Agency. This was a news service run by the government.

He also worked for The Irish Press group. In 1959, he joined The Irish Times, a very well-known newspaper. For a while, he was also the editor of The Dublin Evening Mail.

Writing for The Irish Times

At The Irish Times, John Healy wrote a popular column called Backbencher. He wrote this column throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He was also a good friend of the newspaper's editor, Douglas Gageby.

Books by John Healy

John Healy wrote two important books. His first book, No One Shouted Stop (The Death of an Irish Town), came out in 1968. This book talked about how life in the countryside in western Ireland was changing. It described a time when many people were poor and moving away from their homes.

His second book was called Nineteen Acres. In this book, he wrote about his own family's history. He shared stories about their life as small farmers.

Political Interests

John Healy was a strong supporter of a political party called Fianna Fáil. He admired some important politicians, including Donagh O'Malley and Charles Haughey. His support for Charles Haughey was sometimes debated among other journalists at The Irish Times.

Death and Legacy

John Healy passed away on January 6, 1991. He is remembered for his writing and his insights into Irish life.

Remembering John Healy

Many things have been named in his honor. These include the Western Development Commission/John Healy Awards. The N5 Charlestown bypass, a road near his hometown, also bears his name. There are also the John Healy Western People Awards.

Published Works

• The Death of an Irish Town (Mercier Press, 1968)
• Nineteen Acres (ISBN: 0906312108, Kennys Bookshops, 1978)