LIMERICK came together for a civic reception to celebrate the career of seasoned journalist Cathy Halloran, who has just retired from her long held position as RTÉ’s Mid West correspondent.
Mayor of Limerick John Moran hosted the reception at City Hall last Thursday to mark Cathy’s 38 years of service to Ireland’s national broadcaster, a role she held from 1993 until her recent retirement in May.
Her reporting throughout the time touched on many significant issues in Limerick and the Mid West, including many uplifting stories of resilience and community spirit.
Beginning her journalism career in the 1980s with The Farmer Magazine and the Connacht Tribune in Galway, she joined RTÉ in 1987.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, Ms Halloran said she felt “naked” without her trusty notebook and pen by her side, having become accustomed to recording the news as opposed to making it.
“It is unusual but of course, deep down, it’s an absolutely massive honour and I’m really delighted and deeply moved that the city chose to honour me in this way, led by the Mayor.
“Limerick is a city I love. I came to live here 31 years ago, I’ve spent half my life here and my family are here.”
Cathy reflected on one of the first news stories she covered as Mid West correspondent, the opening of Vistakon, now known as Johnson & Johnson, bringing mass employment and enterprise to the region.
However it wasn’t just the good news stories Cathy covered during her tenure.
She believes “the city faced a lot of heartache” over the years, “a lot of dereliction, and perhaps in some ways, it felt a little bit abandoned, certainly from a national level”.
“The gangland violence thrust Limerick into the headlines and in many ways it was turned on its head, and people said ‘We’ve got to do something about this’. The citizens got behind a movement and their voices changed things. When that happened, and leaders of the city saw it happening, confidence grew and people started asking ‘What are we doing? Why aren’t we selling this city?’ I think that was a real turning point.”
Leading the reception, Mayor Moran said he was thrilled to have been able to grant a civic reception to Ms Halloran.
“As we’ve been thinking about people who’ve made a real and lasting impact on life in Limerick and the wider region, we didn’t have to look any further than Cathy.
“She has been a calm, trusted, and honest voice reporting on Limerick for decades, putting into words our highest of highs, and poignantly describing some of our most difficult moments.”
For now, Cathy plans to take a well-earned break, but the question on everyone’s lips remains.
Will she put pen to paper and document the highs and lows of her nearly 40 year career?
“Of course there’s a book,” Cathy said.
But whether it will come to fruition, the people of the Mid West will have to stay tuned.
