Engineering a way into journalism

When the 2FM midlands correspondent Sarah Foster tipped down to Lanesborough last week to interview the just-retired Ciarán Mullooly, former midlands correspondent with RTÉ news, the young Mullingar woman elicited a surprise revelation: journalism wasn’t his first career choice.

“I actually studied for mechanical and plastics engineering,” Ciarán revealed.

However, it transpired, he quickly realised that it wasn’t for him and six months into his college course, he quit.

Ciarán revealed that his career in journalism began when the late Eugene McGee gave him a job in the newsroom of The Longford Leader and after time spent in various local newspaper and local radio jobs, he got a job on Ear to the Ground.

Highlights he called from his years on the RTÉ news team included golfer Shane Lowry’s return after winning the Open; and “the great Páidí Ó Sé” bringing back GAA silverware to Westmeath.

“In 27 years I have made great friends, particularly in the regions,” he said, listing other correspondents with whom he had worked, such as Eileen Magnier, Damien Tiernan and Cathy Halloran.

One of his closest friends from sport was Marty Morrissey, Ciarán told Sarah, before going on to share a bit of local sporting news: he personally is involved in setting up a Syrian soccer team in his local area as part of his new focus, which is to be in the area of community development and social enterprise.

His advice to young people starting out is that they should “follow their dreams”.