LOCAL media in the Mid West is mourning the passing of one of its most respected and loved members with the death on Monday of Anna Nolan.
Anna, who lived in Cratloe, County Clare, was primarily a freelance science and business journalist, who worked for the Sunday Business Post, the Irish Times, Technology Ireland, and contributed to many leading science publications here and internationally.
She began her journalism career as an editor of technical publications and, early in that career, worked for a time with the Limerick Consumer, the precursor of the Limerick Post.
With a primary degree in maths and physics, Anna went on to do a master’s degree in science and communications, as well as gaining many other qualifications through life-long learning programmes.
She was one of the very few Irish journalists to be accredited to attend a space launch by NASA and the European Space Agency.
An elected official of the National Union of Journalists, Anna served both at local, national, and international level, including holding a seat on the union’s equality council.
Anna was also a long-standing member of the European Union of Science Journalists Associations and attended many of their conferences as a delegate.
Known for her meticulous attention to accuracy and fairness, Anna was much in demand for her vast knowledge and understanding of all matters scientific and her ability to communicate effectively to a wider audience on the subject.
She was known for her strictly ethical and balanced approach when writing about any issue and her determination to give the scientific facts regardless of the populist view.
In her private life she loved travel and was a huge supporter of the arts, particularly opera. A prodigious reader of both fact and fiction, one of Anna’s last outings was to attend her book club just days before being hospitalised.
Anna will be best remembered by all who knew her as a devoted and loving wife to Richard and mother to Aisling as well as a loyal, supportive, and loving friend to many.
Service at Shannon Crematorium on Saturday at 3pm.
