Newspapers have been part of Edward O'Hanlon's family since the days of the Famine, so it's not surprising that those closest to him say ink was in his blood.
Former chairman and editor of the Anglo-Celt in Cavan, Edward O'Hanlon died on November 27th after a long illness. He was 73. Family and friends knew him as Ned, an even-tempered, gently humorous gentleman. In a profession where people move jobs more often than most, many of the Anglo-Celt staff have worked with Edward O`Hanlon since he became editor in 1947 - a tribute to his talent for unravelling problems in a quiet way.
He attended Miss Donnelly's school in Cavan town and went on to Clongowes Wood College with many of his childhood friends. They describe their late colleague as someone who was "a good games man, well-respected and one of the most reliable people you could meet".
After one year of an arts degree course at UCD, Edward O'Hanlon enlisted in the Army at the outset of the Emergency, leaving after six years with the rank of Second Lieutenant, to join the family business. He brought to the newspaper a keen interest in photography. The Anglo- Celt was one of the first newspapers in Ireland to employ a full-time photographer in the late 1950s, at a time when provincial papers were almost completely text.
He was a hands-on editor who assumed responsibility for some of the regular columns. Reflections - a weekly contribution from local Protestant and Roman Catholic clergy, was one of his ideas which added to the quality of the newspaper.
Outside work, he remained a keen all-round sportsman. Golf was his passion and he became captain and later president of Co Cavan Golf Club. He was also a very active secretary and chairman of Cavan Dramatic Society.
Edward O'Hanlon was predeceased by his brother Frederick and a son, Simon, who died at an early age. He is survived by his wife Airmid (nee McMullin) and children Johnny, Morna (Hogan), Kate (Marshall), Ned and Peter, sister Joan and brother William.
Edward T. (Ned) O'Hanlon: born 1926; died November, 1999