Celt is so much more than a ‘local rag’
The description of this newspaper as a ‘local rag’ is an insult to the small editorial team behind The Anglo-Celt who put in so many hours to report on the news and issues of the day across multiple platforms - in print, online and on social media. They are dedicated to their profession and go above and beyond in terms of their roles as reporters.
Cllr Carmel Brady uttered some strong remarks at the December meeting of Cavan County Council during which she criticised the editorial decision to place the story about Cavan Institute being awarded €40M on page 3 of this newspaper in the issue dated December 8 last.
Cllr Brady expressed her disgust that the story about the previous Friday’s announcement wasn’t on the front page and said that people had referred to the paper as a ‘local rag’.
The development of a new campus for Cavan Institute has received extensive coverage in this newspaper - in print and online - going back several years.
The ‘official’ and much-welcomed confirmation finally came on Friday, December 8, 2022, and was the top story on our website and social media channels that day. The Celt sent a dedicated reporter to the event, despite Circuit Court and Christmas features being in full swing. The print edition - out Wednesday, five days later - saw the Cavan Institute story placed as the lead story on page 3. The front-page story that week related to €3.1M in payments to Cavan hoteliers and accommodation providers for putting up Ukrainian refugees over a six-month period.
It should also be noted that the new campus for Cavan Institute was announced a number of times in 2022. The Celt carried the story on Pages 2 & 5 of the issue dated September 29; Page 3 on October 13; and Page 12 on May 19.
This newspaper on October 6, 2022, also featured an editorial ‘Hats off to Cavan Institute’ following the graduation of Cavan Institute students. In it, the editor praised the further education and training facility, its students and teaching staff and made mention of the imminent announcement of the new campus.
It concluded: ‘Parents and students of Leaving Cert students take note. It is well worth exploring the range of courses on offer at Cavan Institute especially for students who may be unsure what path they wish to pursue. There are a variety of taster courses that will help students decide and afford them a little growing room before investing time and money in an expensive degree programme elsewhere. It’s the smart choice!’
The ‘local rag’ continues to pay and send trained and experienced journalists to council meetings, courts, MD meetings, JPC meetings and much more in the interest of public service journalism. Indeed, the Celt sent a reporter to the December council meeting in Glangevlin (from which Cllr Brady’s comments are reported) despite dangerous driving conditions on the day in question.
The issues raised and business conducted at these meetings and sessions would go on behind closed doors were it not for independent journalism and the role of local news publishers. Councillors’ issues and debates would also take place in a vacuum and go unreported. This newspaper and its reporters have performed that role since 1846.
The Celt takes our role and responsibility most seriously and puts thought and consideration into our lead stories - in the same way that councillors do the motions they place on agendas.
This newspaper is also delighted with confirmation of €40M for Cavan Institute and will continue to report on the development of the facility as it progresses, holding public bodies and representatives to account, and also putting pressure to ensure it is delivered for the people of Cavan by the projected deadline of 2027.
- Linda O’Reilly, Editor -