‘It was more than just a newspaper’

When the Ballybay-Clones MD met on Monday, members paid their own tributes to the Northern Standard and, as like so many times before in her 19-year career with the Monaghan title, journalist, Veronica Corr, was in attendance.

Cathaoirleach of the MD, Cllr Sinéad Flynn (SF) opened the comments when she said she was “genuinely shocked and saddened” to learn that “after almost 200 years, the Standard, which covered our weddings and graduations, sporting events and tragedies” was closing down.

“It was more than just a newspaper, it was a record of our public life,” the chair said before presenting Veronica Corr with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of Ballybay-Clones Municipal District.

Her party colleague, Cllr Pat Treanor took up the mantle from Cllr Flynn by saying the Northern Standard has been “the main communication between the MD, county council and the people” adding that “Thursdays will be different from now on".

Cllr Treanor said it was “only right and proper” that the members reflect on 186 years of journalism and said his thoughts are with the staff of the Standard and their families who are now facing redundancy.

“I hope they all find similar work,” the Clones councillor added.

Cllr Richard Truell (FG) said he remembers as a child chasing the Standard’s long-serving photographer, Rory Geary, “like a hero” trying to get his picture in the paper, to which, Sinéad Flynn quipped: “You still do that, Richard.”

On a serious note, Cllr Truell said he thought the loss of the county’s local newspaper was “detrimental to people who can’t drive or get out of their homes for whatever reason".

Wishing the Smyth family and staff at the Northern Standard “all the best” for the future, Cllr Truell said he hoped “somebody will pick up where the Standard left off".

Cllr Sean Gilliland also recounted childhood memories of buying the Northern Standard with his parents and grandparents on what was not called Thursday in his family, but ‘Standard Day’ – a tradition he has carried on with his two children, aged eight and five until last week.

“Standard Day didn’t just mean stopping off at Latton Post Office to buy the paper but sweets or an ice-cream as well,” Cllr Gilliand said.

“Now, my children when they’re learning the days of the week, they say ‘Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Standard Day’, like I did, because they know they’ll be going to the shop to buy sweets along with the paper.”

Turning to the journalism provided by Vernica Corr, Peter Hughes and Michael Fisher before that, Cllr Gilliland thanked the reporting staff at the Northern Standard for “always turning up” and paid tribute to the “fair and accurate” journalism at the Standard.

As councillors made their remarks, the Northern Standard’s reporter at the meeting became emotional.

Veronica Corr thanked the members on behalf of the staff of the Standard.

“We can only get in what you put out – it has been a partnership. Thank you,” she said through tears.