*The Clare Champion offices on Barrack St in Ennis.
FORMER CLARE PEOPLE journalist, Andrew Hamilton has joined The Clare Champion.
Hamilton is understood to be on board as the new Deputy Editor of The Champion succeeding Limerick native Kevin Corbett who left the publication in February to take up a communications role with the Office of Public Works (OPW).
No members of the existing Champion newsroom namely Dan Danaher, Jessica Quinn, Owen Ryan or Fiona McGarry applied for the vacancy, The Clare Echo understands. Staff have not been informed the exact title of Hamilton’s new role but have been told he has joined their team.
A member of the newsroom with The Clare People throughout its entire fourteen year history from its launch in June 2005 to its final print edition in August 2019, Andy served in a variety of posts including News Editor, Features Editor, Online Editor and Senior News Journalist.
Now based in Galway, he is originally from North Clare. Since The Clare People’s closure, he was worked as a freelance reporter with outlets such as The Farming Independent, The Irish Times, The Irish Independent and The Connacht Tribune.
He is the latest former staffer of The Clare People to join The Champion. Current Editor, Colin McGann previously held the same role with The Clare People while Ennis’ John O’Rourke is the paper’s Graphic Designer.
Both Eoin Brennan and Joe Ó Muircheartaigh who won awards for their sports coverage with The People contribute to The Champion on a freelance basis with the work of Clarecastle native Brennan also read in The Clare Echo, he also fronts a weekly podcast ‘Champion Chatter’ alongside Ogonnelloe native James Lynch. Similarly, photographer Nathasha Barton also works with the paper on a regular freelance basis.
Current reporter, McGarry has been shortlisted in this year’s Justice Media Awards for a radio mini-documentary she did for Midwest Radio entitled ‘Searching for Sandra’. Fiona spoke to the family of Killala native Sandra Collins who disappeared on 4th December 2000 without a trace about life in the intervening twenty two years.
Meanwhile, Clare FM have made additions to their newsroom. The vacancies that arose following the exists of Limerick duo Josh Prenderville and Rebecca O’Sullivan have been filled in Francis Street.
Respected musician Sean Lyons joined Clare FM as a broadcast journalist in the past fortnight. The Newmarket-on-Fergus man recently completed a masters in journalism at the University of Galway. From a family stepped in music, he travelled from a young age to the US, UK and Australia to perform, he has released two singles including his debut EP ‘Juliana EP’ last December.
Fresh from winning ‘DJ of the Year’ at the National Student Media Awards, Daragh Dolan has joined Clare FM on a full-time basis. The Clarecastle native had been with the station in a part-time capacity but has been promoted in recent weeks. He scooped the recent gong alongside Ennis’ Jake O’Loughlin for their work on Wired FM.
Clare FM had also been boosted by having experienced journalist Peter O’Connell as part of their ranks in a temporary capacity. The Kilmurry McMahon native who was a reporter with The Champion for sixteen years before beginning a three year stint as Editor, is currently working with RTÉ Radio One for shows including Morning Ireland and the News at One and had been with Clare FM as they worked to fill the vacancies in the newsroom which is headed up by Ennis native Fiona Cahill.
