Tributes paid to former 'Irish Times' news editor John Armstrong

FORMER Irish Times journalist John Armstrong had a “life well-lived” as a very good journalist, a decisive editor, an amazing dad and a loyal friend, mourners at his funeral heard.

Mr Armstrong, a general reporter, education correspondent, news and night editor in his 33 years at the paper, died suddenly last week, aged 65.

Hundreds of friends and former colleagues joined his family at the Unitarian church in Dublin yesterday, in a ceremony led by humanist celebrant Brian Whiteside, who spoke of his wonderful sense of humour, his love of books and the question of “just how many times he read PG Wodehouse”.

In a joint tribute, his daughters Katy and Rachel and son David spoke of “our amazing Dad” whose “wide-ranging interests, generous spirit and intellect has added a richness to our lives that shaped the people we are today”.

He always felt lucky and “even in his death he was lucky”. The evening before he died “he went to the cinema with Maria. He came home, was in great form, spoke to all three of us” and “died peacefully in his sleep. Surely there is no better way to go”.

Friend and former news editor Niall Kiely said he was “less than perfect, prone to the occasional lapse”, and could be “stubbornly cranky.” But his flaws made him even more likeable, and “he was often kind and thoughtful, he had no malice in him and he was always courteous.

“As a journalist he had two of Nicholas Tomalin’s three requisites: rat-like cunning, a plausible manner and a little literary ability.” He was not “crafty by instinct but was smart enough to take Machiavellian counsel when office politics intruded. In fact John Armstrong was that highest form of journalistic life, the beating heart of every newsroom: a very good general reporter”.

His son-in-law Mick Lamb read the poem The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry, spoke of Mr Armstrong’s love for his two granddaughters Evie and Emma. Former night editor Eugene McEldowney sang The Parting Glass in tribute to “a life well-lived”.

His close friend Maria Oleinik recited a poem she had written: “You loved the planets, galaxies, the sky. Your curiosity had no limits. You shared a book, but changed a life. Your mind, your speech were most vivid.”

Former assistant news editor and friend Renagh Holohan said he had had a “wild youth” and it was “very hard to fall out with John”. He was a “joy to work with on a big news night”. He was “very quiet and stayed totally focused on what was going on” and was “most decisive”, as night editor.

Chief mourners included his daughters Katy and Rachel, son David, granddaughters Evie and Emma, son-in-law Mick Lamb, close friend Maria Oleinik and former wife Marion McDonald. Also there were actors Geraldine Plunkett and Peadar Lamb, Independent TD Shane Ross, former National Museum director Pat Wallace, Press Ombudsman John Horgan, former MEP Bernie Malone, former RTÉ London editor Mike Burns and former producer Micheál Johnston, Irish Independent journalist Sam Smyth and columnist Kevin Myers, and Sunday Business Post editor Cliff Taylor.

Deputy editor of The Irish Times, Denis Staunton, represented the editor, Kevin O’Sullivan.

Also present were Irish Times news editor Roddy O’Sullivan, foreign editor Peter Murtagh and night editor Noel Costello. Former senior editors Pat O’Hara, Gerry Smyth, Joe Breen and Don Buckley, and former colleagues Denis Coghlan, Séamus Martin, Michael Foley, Mark Brennock, Jackie Gallagher, Rev Pat Comerford, Joe Carroll, John Maher, Audrey Magee, Terence Killeen, Patricia Leahy, Deirdre Morrissey, Nuala Haughey, Maol Muire Tynan, Jim McCullough, Andy Pollak, Paul Murray and Joe Joyce also attended.