Seamus Martin facts for kids

Seamus Martin (born 1942) is a well-known Irish journalist who used to be the international editor for The Irish Times newspaper. He is the brother of Diarmuid Martin, who was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. Seamus Martin also served on the board of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which is the official group that looks after broadcasting in Ireland.

Early Life and Education

Seamus Martin was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1942. He went to school at Gormanston College in County Meath. Later, he studied at the College of Commerce Rathmines, which is now part of the Dublin Institute of Technology. He also learned about economics in Paris, France, at a special school called L'Ecole de la Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris.

A Career in Journalism

Seamus Martin has had a very varied career in journalism. He started out as a top sports commentator when he was younger. He wrote for famous newspapers like The Irish Press and the Irish Independent. He even became the sports editor for the Sunday Tribune and wrote a regular column for the Evening Herald.

Later in his career, he moved to The Irish Times. There, he became the Features Editor, which meant he was in charge of special articles and stories. He also wrote his own column for the newspaper.

Reporting on World Events

Seamus Martin became a foreign correspondent for The Irish Times. This meant he traveled to other countries to report on important news. He covered two of the biggest stories of the late 20th century.

The Fall of the Soviet Union

As the newspaper's reporter in Moscow, Russia, he saw and wrote about the end of communism. He reported on the breaking up of the Soviet Union. This was a huge change for many countries. Seamus Martin showed how this big political change affected the everyday lives of ordinary people. He also made a documentary series called Death of an Empire about these events. It won a Gold award in 2012 at the "New York Festivals World's Best Radio Programs" Awards.

The End of Apartheid in South Africa

Seamus Martin also reported from South Africa. He covered the amazing story of Nelson Mandela. Mandela went from being a prisoner to becoming the president of South Africa. Martin reported on the end of apartheid, which was a system of unfair racial separation. He saw the arrival of democracy in South Africa.

Digital Journalism and Awards

After his time as a foreign correspondent, Seamus Martin became the editor for the online versions of The Irish Times. He won several awards for his work in digital news. In 1998, he won the Swiss IP Top award for having the best international news website.

Other Work and Retirement

Seamus Martin was also very involved in the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). This is a group that supports journalists. He was a member of their main council in London. He also led the Irish Council of the NUJ and was a "Father" of The Irish Times branch of the NUJ.

He has written a novel called Duggan's Destiny, which received good reviews. His book of memories, Good Times and Bad, was published in 2008 and became a bestseller in Ireland. He also made TV documentaries like Martin's Moscow and Time on your hands in Latvia, which were shown on RTÉ television.

In his retirement, Seamus Martin lives in Ireland. He also spends part of the year in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. There, he has a small house and a tiny vineyard. He still writes sometimes as a freelance journalist. He has written for The Sunday Business Post, the Irish Examiner, and The Irish Times. He has also been interviewed on Russia Today about current events.