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Independent House on Middle Abbey Street, constructed in 1924 and home to the Irish Independent until 2004, when Independent News and Media moved to Talbot Street. The copper-framed clock in the centre of the façade – “Set your watch by it”, as the line used to go – appears to have stopped in the years since.
should be valued and be invested in. If memory serves, my first pay packet from the Indo was less than £15 a week, which was appreciably more than the money I was paid for my previous job in the Irish Press. But after 1973 O’Reilly called in the Chapel Committee, which included people like John Devine, Frank Downey, Tony Jones and Paul Hayes, and agreed the ‘House Agreement.’ The world suddenly changed for newspaper journalists and 20-30 per cent pay rises were on the cards. It is very often forgotten that newspaper boats all over the country began to float higher – including the provincial papers. That wonderful catch-all word ‘conditions’ vastly improved. There were plenty of vigorous NUJ voices
keeping O’Reilly’s managers with their feet to the fire. My former colleague Colm Rapple was certainly one, Kevin Moore was another, but in fairness to the O’Reilly regime of that
time, it was as good as its word and one spin- off effect was that a better class of journalist was attracted by the improved salaries, pensions and prospects. The net effect was a string of titles that
produced some outstanding stories (the Kerry Babies saga was just one). When the Indo spoke people, but also governments, took notice. Having seen the ‘good times,’ has made the decline and fall of Indo circulations hard to bear, though ever mindful of technological changes that are killing the industry I once knew. If for any reason, or because of the
difficulties in the past few years, it was forgotten that the Indo was powerful, ambitious and successful news-gathering institution full of talented, often brilliant people, it would be a total shame.
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