By Veronica Corr
Veteran broadcast and print journalist Michael Fisher recently retired from The Northern Standard and at the outset of Monday morning’s meeting of Ballybay-Clones Municipal District meeting, Cathaoirleach Richard Truell led tributes to the esteemed reporter. Councillor Truell also presented Michael with a beautiful Clones Lace Celtic Cross, which our former colleague, who is also a qualified tour guide, vowed to treasure as a reminder of his time with the paper covering Clones News and the Municipal District meetings.
Michael came out of retirement from national broadcasting and began reporting for this paper in January 2015, covering the Carrickmacross area during this journalist’s maternity leave. However, it is clear that journalism is in his DNA, because he stayed on and became a valued member of the team. A man of vast and varied interests,
Michael took the decision to retire for good last month and his last day with the paper was at the end of April. In paying tribute to the career newsman, the Cathaoirleach observed that Michael had been a journalist for over 47 years, having worked in public service broadcasting with RTÉ and BBC. He had enjoyed a distinguished career, covering politics and events in Northern Ireland for RTÉ News in Belfast for 26 years, before retiring in September 2010.
Over the last number of years Michael had been covering the Clones area and reporting on Ballybay- Clones Municipal District fell under his remit. He also functioned as a reporter for the whole county, covering news and events which kept the public informed, Councillor Truell observed. In 2020, Michael’s dedicated coverage of the pandemic in The Northern Standard from March- August of that year, saw him recognised with the Best COVID Reporting Award from the Guild of Agricultural Journalists, the meeting’s chairman added.
The Fine Gael representative recalled that he had first met Michael at the election convention in the Acorn Centre in Newbliss. He thanked him for his courtesy and professionalism before commenting: “On behalf of the elected members and staff of Ballybay-Clones Municipal District, I would like to express our gratitude and extend our congratulations to you on your retirement and your wonderful career. We wish you and your wife Evelyn the best of health and happiness on your new journey in life.”
Councillor Truell concluded by stating that Michael would have more time to do things he enjoyed such as travelling to see his favourite team AFC Wimbledon. The Cathaoirleach assured Michael that he would be missed, not only by his colleagues, but also by councillors for his impartial reporting. In accepting the presentation, Michael thanked the councillors and officials for their co-operation and described it as a privilege to have covered their meetings. On the drive up to Ballybay Civic Building, he said that he had observed many of the developments that he had written about over the years too.
Councillor Seamus Coyle wished Michael well in his retirement, expressing sincere appreciation to him for his courtesy and work over the years. The Fianna Fáil representative noted that Michael had been very dedicated in his local coverage on the North/South Interconnector issue, which brought the message from the people affected back to the powers that be. Councillor Coyle also thanked Michael for all the co-operation he had shown him as a public representative. In wishing Michael and his wife well, Councillor Coyle concluded by expressing confidence that Michael would find ways to keep himself busy, with his involvement in Monaghan Lions Club and with the museum’s Decade of Centenaries.
Councillor Pat Treanor wished to join with the others in congratulating Michael on a long and successful career. He recalled that the first he had heard of Michael Fisher was when a young Tydavnet woman married a famous reporter — an observation which made Michael laugh! The Sinn Féin representative went on to recall being interviewed by Michael on the border roads issue, but he couldn’t be interviewed on camera because of the censorship laws of the time, with Michael nodding in recognition. Councillor Treanor added that Michael’s coverage of the interconnector for The Northern Standard later in his career had proven vital to the debate. He wished Michael, his wife and their family all the best in the future.
Independent Councillor Hugh McElvaney complimented Michael as being an excellent reporter, at both national and local level. Director of Services for the District, Patricia Monahan commented that Michael’s journalistic career had been very important because in the electronic age, good, accurate reporting was more important than ever. In response, Michael expressed the belief that Monaghan County Council would continue to play a vital role in the news going forward.
