EDITORIAL: We wish you every happiness in your retirement, Ronan

This week, the teams at the Tipperary Star and The Nationalist will say farewell to one of our own.

Ronan Dodd is retiring after an amazing 50 years in the newspaper business.  

His career spans both national and local press and he has been on both sides of the editor’s desk. 

He has worked on many big stories but would tell you no story is too small.

 But now, it is time for him to write a new chapter for himself. 

He will be greatly missed, particularly by his colleagues at the Star. Ronan has never refused to help one of us in need and has been there for the communities in the Nenagh area for 14 years.

He is always up for a chat and has been a source of guidance for all those he works with.

That is  particularly true for the young journalists just starting out. We have learned a great deal from Ronan Dodd that we will use  throughout our careers.

  When the next generation of reporters come around, those of us watching their first steps into  news will treat them as we were treated when we came up.

Ronan treats everyone as his equal and with the utmost respect. 

  It was no surprise to us when Ronan won a Media Justice Award in 2022. But we all were and remain hugely proud of his achievement.

 As Ronan himself says in his piece on page four, newspapers have changed so much during his 50-year career. 

But, the basics stay the same no matter the format.

Report with honesty and integrity and be a source of information that people can trust. 

Hold those in power to account while shining a light on the wonderful work of communities around you. Ronan did that, and we will continue the same work. 

So, Ronan, we wish you the very best in the future.

 Have fun,  do everything and anything you want and don’t be a stranger because we can’t wait to see where your next adventure takes you.