NewsFour Pioneer All Set To Enjoy Retirement
By Eoin Meegan
All great ideas begin with a thought in someone’s head. 38 years ago Ann Ingle, then resident in Sandymount, came up with the idea for a local newspaper; informative, lively, interesting, one that would capture the authentic voice of Dublin 4. From that idea NewsFour was born. Now after many years serving as the Chairperson of the Sponsoring Committee of Sandymount Community Services, the steering committee behind NewsFour and many other successful enterprises in our community, Ann is stepping down to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
As a fitting tribute this issue is dedicated to her.
For personal tributes from Denis McKenna, Rodney Devitt, and Dermot Lacey as they share their personal memories of Ann, see links below the article.
Ann’s love affair with Ireland began in Cornwall, believe it or not, when she met handsome Irish man Peter Ingle. After a whirlwind romance, the couple married and came to live in Ireland. It was clear from the start they were soul mates. They had many happy years in their home, first in Bath Avenue, and then in Sandymount Green, and raised eight children, until Peter’s untimely death. In her 2022 autobiography Openhearted: Eighty Years of Love, Loss, Laughter and Letting Go, Ann writes candidly about her life, sex, family, and especially her relationship with Peter. To a working class girl who grew up in Hackney, East London, it must have been something of a culture shock when she moved here in the early ‘60s. However, she quickly immersed herself in the life of Sandymount and the surrounding area, taking on multiple writing jobs and working tirelessly from her kitchen table. Her home soon became the fulcrum of local activity. A fan of Jack Kerouac and a child of the Beatnik generation, Ann has herself been on a journey all her life. A very important part of that journey was writing. Over the years she has contributed many erudite articles to The Irish Times and other publications.
Ann was the first editor of NewsFour, a role she held for six years and saw it established as the relevant paper it is today, reflecting the views and interests of the cultural and business element of the local community. Hers was always an independent voice, and she had no truck with courting the favour of establishment pillars. Later she went on to Trinity where she graduated with a degree in English and History. She even travelled to the States being lucky enough to procure one of those coveted J1 visas. Fast forward a few years and through the kind offices of Paul Howard (aka Ross O’Carroll-Kelly) she was introduced to former racing driver Rosemary Smith for whom she acted as ghost writer on Smith’s acclaimed 2018 autobiography Driven, which was nominated for a Bord Gáis Energy award. Smith pioneered the way for women in what was a very male dominated space. Both women, then in their 70s, seemed to hit it off straight away and would meet weekly where Ann would diligently record Rosemary’s life story. It’s testimony to her listening and writing skills that she managed to capture the authentic sound of Rosemary’s voice, her nuances of speech and individual style. The couple remained firm friends until Smith’s passing in 2023.
But her big success undoubtedly is Openhearted, her autobiography, although in her own words as much Peter’s story as hers, which was nominated for an An Post award. The book, funny in places, heartbreaking in others, covers the highs and lows, Peter’s battle with mental health, the long nights of worry, and then crossing that threshold that was his passing. Ann describes Peter as “kind and tender” and that they were “madly in love. In love, madly.”
In a review in this paper it stated:
“Ann’s passion for writing comes across in her words, her authenticity, her attention to detail, and her ability to make you feel as if you too were part of her story.”
I had occasion to meet Ann several times when I became editor of NewsFour and always found her to be a warm and compassionate person, someone who was kind but also would stand no nonsense. What especially endeared me to her was that she always had a twinkle in her eye.
Ann, from everyone here at the paper . . . your paper . . . may I take this opportunity to thank you for your kindness and help, for always being able to liven up any party, for your sincerity and courage, and for getting the ball rolling in the first place. Here’s to a long and happy retirement.
Eoin Meegan
Editor.
Read more:
Tribute to Ann Ingle on her retirement by Denis McKenna
Tribute to Ann Ingle on her retirement by Rodney Devitt
Tribute to Ann Ingle on her retirement by Dermot Lacey
