Ahead of his time on key issues

THE improvement of the county’s industry and of the quality of life of its people was an objective Seamus pursued relentlessly in his journalism.

One man who observed Seamus Mcconville’s career in The Kerryman with no little personal stake of his own was former Fianna Fáil TD for south Kerry John O’leary. The longestserving south Kerry TD ever and a former county council official, he attested to Seamus’s unwavering commitment to improving our county through his journalism.

“To deal with he was an utter gentleman always and in interviewing he was gentle, but extremely firm. He was an excellent journalist and editor, extremely competent always.

“Seamus was always very interested in the progress of the county, from its industry and infrastructure to planning, tourism and everything else. His journalism played a big part in the campaign for Valentia Bridge, which was the big issue of my campaign in 1966 the first year I was elected. That bridge was built subsequently.

“Seamus also wrote very favourably about the need for an airport at Farranfore, in the centre of the county and that was opened in 1969. He did great work in support of our tourism industry. I suppose you could also say that he was ahead of his time on many issues, most notably on planning as he campaigned for the process to be made more apparent – to think that was over 40 years ago.

“He was also to the fore on the need for decentralising government departments. He didn’t care what part of Kerry it went to as long as it happened.

“He was a gentleman to his fingertips and I am very sorry for Dolores and his family.”