Celt's Eddie picks up News Series award

Celt amongst winners at Local Ireland Journalism Awards

The Anglo-Celt team is celebrating winning a top award at the Local Ireland Journalism Awards tonight.

Eddie Butler deservedly won the 'Best News Series' award for bringing to light how a hydrotherapy pool which had cost €440,000 had been left disused as there were not the resources to run it.

Issues with funding came to light as the then senior reporter shadowed Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte on her visit to Hillside Centre on the Crosskeys Road. Minister Rabbitte was shocked to discover peeling paint and the pool lying empty, which Eddie reported on the Celt's front page. A follow up article detailed the significant therapeutic role the pool provide for service users such as Amelie McCormack (then aged 11) who has Retts Syndrome.

Subsequent updates by the Roscommon man ensured pressure was maintained on those in charge of the public coffers until Enable Ireland was finally provided with the necessary funds.

Eddie came to The Anglo-Celt newsroom, having accrued huge experience in the Northern Sound team where he worked as news editor. At the Celt his professionalism instantly shone through, and his opinion was highly valued. We were sad to see him depart to pursue a different career path in Belfast. The Local Ireland judges tonight confirmed what the Celt office already knew - he was simply a class journalist.

The Celt's Linda O'Reilly collected the award on Eddie's behalf.