Another of the great journalists signs off...

Dear Sir,

WHEN I learned the news that Jim McCullen had passed away, my heart sank.

Memories immediately came to mind of great times shared with Jim during his long journalistic career with the Drogheda Independent. My friendship with Jim went back to 1974.

It wasn’t exactly the best start to what was to become an enduring friendship. He was a judge in the final of a major Talent Competition in the Big Tree in Clogherhead in which I was a finalist. My first encounter with him was a confrontation vehemently disagreeing with the judges decision.

At that time, he also covered the music scene in the Drogheda Independent and penned a very nice piece about me in the following Thursday’s edition which bore no ill towards my confrontation with him.

A phone call was made and some humble pie was devoured, on my behalf, which resulted in a friendship that has prevailed ever since.

There are others who will subscribe more intimately and knowledgably than me regarding the wonderful traits and professional acumen he possessed as a Journalist and Deputy Editor with the Drogheda Independent.

I found him to be extremely loyal and dedicated to his profession and the paper, and yes, a little mischievous at times, when he had the local political scene in confusion as to who was doing what.

He also exhibited compassion, sensitivity and balance to everything he penned. Throughout my activity in many social, sporting and community spheres, I shared many opinions and views with Jim and was never once compromised in print in any subject we discussed.

Another facet of his nature was the goodwill he shared for his media colleagues. He had high regard for those with whom he worked with as fellow journalists and reporters in the Drogheda Independent and went on to acquit themselves admirably in the National Media and indeed beyond which pleased him tremendously.

Since Jim’s retirement, I did meet him occasionally and inevitably reminiscence would bring us back to the halcyon days of his career and the stories and incidences were shared with an abundance of humour.

His professional journalistic acumen and integrity will last long after his demise and whenever there is a discussion of times past, Jim McCullen will be mentioned as a loyal to his profession and his friends.

May He Rest in Peace.

Seamie Briscoe

Dear Sir,

Open letter to local TDS. Please pass on this letter to leaders of your own political parties Etc, Honestly think it is worthy of some serious consideration;

Given that Dail is hardly sitting at all, No government formed several weeks after election, and we are all in a major health crisis, having to do what were previously unthinkable things, Might it be an idea to cut / reduce, all political salaries, expenses, Etc, by 50 per cent for duration of crisis, Part time salaries for part time work, Put all this money into health care for those who really need it, Help with provision of ICU Beds, Ventilators, Trained staff to operate same, Plus provision of safety gear for all our health workers, doing such a fantastic job at this time.

Wouldn’t this be a tremendous thing for political parties, individuals etc to do, Join with everybody else, put your shoulder and some of your salaries to very good use, ie Saving Lives, Lead by example, Not just words.

Also where are all our other millionaires at this moment in time, Conor Mc Gregor has started the pot rolling with 1 million euro donation, but there are still many more very wealthy individuals who could also contribute, in a positive way;

They could all be approached to help assist with this wealth fund idea, don’t know cost of ICU Bed, Ventilators, Etc, but each one is vital to person waiting on it, and the more we have the better for everybody concerned, especially those that reach.

This is not meant as a negative attack on politicians or anybody else, just a simple idea give the times we are all living in, that maybe just maybe those that can do more and have the opportunity to do so , Should do it.

Don’t shy away from idea, Don’t go into hiding, Don’t see this as a negative, Please see it as a positive idea, to try and encourage everybody that can afford to do so, to help as many as possible, in such unprecedented and difficult times;

Imagine the positive response from this idea, and the leadership it could and should give to so many others

Pat O’Brien, Duleek

Dear Sir,

This social distancing reminds me of my youth. When girls practiced it on me.

Hung-over from rubbing alcohol based sanitiser on my hands.

My wife told me we have to social distance, I’m in the garden shed.

Thank God for the Disney Channel, keeps me grounded in reality.

Watched the Joker on TV. weird hair, make-up, nonsense conversation, no sense of reality. Enough about Trump.

Woman in mask and gloves stood real close to me in shop. made a little cough. Flames on ground as she ran for life.

Hairdressers closed, Who knew after 40 years the wife is not a natural blond.

If this shut down continues its going to get ugly, No hairdressers, tanning salons, beauty salons.

So many women with long sad faces, sooner the Botox Clinics open the better.

Wife asked me would I like to be cremated or buried. Hid the spade and lawn-mower petrol.

Help, for a brief moment I thought Tommy Tiernan was funny.

Watched ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ great fun trying to remember where I heard all those jokes before. Some are so old they have grey beards.