Marion O'Mara, Waterford News & Star journalist for 45 years, dies

All of us at the Waterford News & Star are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend and colleague Marion O’Mara, who died on Monday, August 17, aged 72. 

Marion gave an incredible 45 years of service to the Waterford News & Star. Her relationship with the newspaper began with a school visit to the Waterford News & Star, where she saw how the text for stories, local notes, and advertising copy was produced using a hot metal typesetting system. A few years later Marion joined the News & Star, then based in the Industrial Estate.

During her 45 years of service from 1974 to 2019, she saw enormous change in the newspaper as well as in Waterford. Marion saw the newspaper move from hot metal page make-up to paste-up to full computer design, she saw it move from broadsheet to tabloid, move from Wednesday evening to Tuesday morning and move offices from the Industrial Estate to Michael Street, to Gladstone Street. She worked under the editorships of Paddy O’Neill, John Cunningham, Peter Doyle and Mary Frances Ryan.

Marion was an exceptional news reporter and Deputy Editor. She had an encyclopaedic knowledge of elections in Waterford, covering local council elections, Dail elections, European elections and Presidential Elections. She was a shrewd reader of the mood ahead of elections and excellent at reading the tally trends, often calling close elections well ahead of results. She saw Waterford move from a one Fianna Fail, one Fine Gael and one Labour Dail seat on 1973 to the breakthrough of Paddy Gallagher for Sinn Fein the Workers Party in 1982, the unexpected breakthrough of Martin Cullen for the Progressive Democrats in 1987, the handover from Austin Deasy to his son John in 2002, the securing of a seat by John Halligan in 2011 and the establishment of Sinn Fein’s grip on the Waterford constituency by David Cullinane in 2016. She reported on many of the closure of many of Waterford’s traditional industries such as Clover Meats, National Board & Paper Mills, Gouldings, the Jute Factory, Cherry’s Brewery, Munster Chipboard, Waterford Gas Company and Waterford Carpets and reported on the arrival of many of the huge multi-national companies that arrived in Waterford. She reported on the troubles and strifes in Waterford Crystal up to the appointment of a Receiver to the company in 2009.

Marion was a brilliant mentor and friend to many journalists who worked in the News & Star. Among those who benefitted from Marion’s knowledge and experience were Paul O’Neill (who went on to become Editor of the Irish Times); Ralph Rielgel, Southern Correspondent of the Irish Independent; Justine Dwyer, Helen Coughlan, Jennifer Long, Ronan Morrissey, Claire Quinn and Dymphna Power. She was exceptional at sharing her experience in local authority reporting, court reporting and how to deliver news stories. She had an unparalleled contact book and could be relied to deliver high quality news stories, week-in, week-out.

Marion was a principled and active trade union representative who represented the National Union of Journalists in negotiations in the News & Star as well as being involved in the South East Branch.

Dan Linehan, General Manager of the Irish Times Regional Group said he knew Marion back to the 1990s and said she was an exceptional reporter, mentor and asset to the News & Star. She contributed so much to the success of the newspaper, caring, generous to her colleagues and defined editorial standards. “She was passionate about news and the newspaper, cared about the paper, the readers and her colleagues. She was extraordinarily accurate and thorough in everything she did and was a wonderful friend, colleague and team member”.

The Editor of the Waterford News & Star, Mary Frances Ryan, said she fondly remembers her time with Marion. "Marion O'Mara cared deeply about Waterford and the Waterford News & Star - she was incredibly loyal to the newspaper she called home for her entire working life.

“Her guidance and knowledge was incredibly important to me when I joined the newspaper as editor 17 years ago. Her clarity on issues concerning Waterford and her distinct talent to read the curve of politics and current affairs pertaining to Waterford, and what was coming down the track, was uncanny.

“I remember very fondly how excited she was about a certain greenway project, that was little more than the pipedream of a small group of individuals. Also, her absolute certainty that an amazing underground section of the then newly emergent Viking Triangle would be developed and pivotal to tourism leaping forward in Waterford thanks to a parting political gift from Martin Cullen.

“The undercroft at the Medieval Museum is indeed the kingpin of all that followed. Marion was a wonderful and trusted friend to me professionally and personally, a wise woman, who gave immeasurable service to Waterford - not only during her career in journalism but latterly with Waterford Older People's Council and Tramore Tidy Towns.

“Marion was also humble - it was always about the story, about the people, about how she could contribute to her community. We endeavour to carry that torch and keep it blazing brightly."

Marion’s reposal will take place on Wednesday, August 19, at Falconers Funeral Home, Tramore X91TW21, from 5pm to 7pm.

Marion’s Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, August 20, at 10am in The Church of the Holy Cross, Tramore, after which Marion will be laid to rest in the adjoining Cemetery.

We offer our deepest condolences to her husband Jim, her daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Eoin, her grandchildren Niamh and Aoife, brothers Michael and Thomas, her sister Bridget, her extended family and friends.