Emer Gallagher
THE new N5 Charlestown bypass will be known as the ‘The John Healy Road’, in memory of the acclaimed journalist who hailed from the town.
“We are absolutely elated, and so are his wife and family. He worked very hard and did a lot for the area. He genuinely was the only media man for the west in Dublin. We are delighted that he will be remembered in this way,” said Gerry Healy, a brother of the late John Healy last week.
He was recently described as ‘an icon of the journalistic age’ by Mayo County Councillor, Joe Mellett.
Healy was born in Charlestown and dedicated his life to journalism. He worked with local newspapers in the west of Ireland before moving to The Irish Times, where his forward thinking earned him a deep respect among his peers.
Almost 40 years ago Healy published the widely-acclaimed book ‘No One Shouted Stop (Death Of An Irish Village)’, which has been acknowledged as an important piece of socio-ecomonic thinking.
The Western Development Commision established the John Healy Media Awards, in memory of the pioneering journalist and each year they attract a huge number of entries from all over the country.
It is hoped that the official opening of the John Healy Charlestown Bypass will take place in October.
