The Late Ivan Neil Ivan was different. He was not your quintessential newspaper man. He was not vain or self important, or loud. He had no swagger. He was a serious and self effacing reporter, a rare animal in our business. He went about his work in a quiet dignified way with no sense of presumption. If he had a grievance few heard about it. He didn't moan or whinge. Most of the time he kept to himself. You could sit beside him for hours with no word exchanged and still feel comfortable in his presence. He rarely socialised with us. He was a private man, so private that he died before many of us knew he was ill. He was a gentle man in a volatile business where the pressure of deadlines was an inescapable part of his weekly contribution. Yet, he missed no deadlines. He was on top of his work whether covering an All-Ireland final in Croke Park or some schoolboys league in some rural corner of the county. He treated both with the same sense of importance. No game, no sporting event was to insignificant to be given other than the full Neill treatment. Ivan's career commenced at the Connaught Telegraph in or around the time that this writer joined the staff of the newspaper - forty years ago this summer. He was freelancing then, covering sport and news from Foxford and the surrounding area. Journalism in those years did not have the attraction that now has thousands all over the country competing to make it their career. Only Mayo News in this county in the early sixties carried a full page dedicated to sports.....until John McHale, as newly appointed news editor, revamped the Connaught Telegraph. Ivan was part of that revolution, and loved it. McHale ensured that every worthwhile article written was given a by-line, including those by Ivan, and thus incurred the wrath of some members of the National Union of Journalists their noses out of joint because some of McHale's new team were thought not qualified to fulfil whatever conditions pretentious member of the union thought necessary for the award of a press card. So, for a while Ivan wrote under the pseudonym of Ricky Adams, and was greeted by that name by those of us who remembered, until the day he died. Ivan became a valuable member of McHale's team and eventually a member of the N.U.J. Sports was his forte and Gaelic games was given wide and thorough coverage. He was loyal, upright and hard working, traits which he brought to his work throughout his life. He spent a short time working for a newspaper in Tipperary before being appointed to the Western People which gave full vent to his talent as reporter and sports editor. He had a keen understanding of footballers, and a deep knowledge of the game they played. His work was recognised over two years ago when Ivan was honoured by the Connacht GAA Council for his contribution to Gaelic games throughout his career. Ivan was decent and obliging. He would never see you stuck. If there was some event which you could not attend he would cover for you. At games he rarely joined his colleagues in the press box, preferring to be down near the dugouts where he could gather first hand information about teams and changes in the interest of accuracy. He wrote of them with great authority, great feeling. His writing reflected his personality, direct and to the point no florid language, no flamboyance. In addition of Gaelic games he was somewhat of a boxing expert. He was the paper's correspondent for the sport, covering all sorts of tournaments throughout the province. Appreciation of that coverage was evident in the turn out of boxing club representatives at his removal. Ivan's annual trips to New York were always a source of speculation by those of us who grew up in journalism with him, who knew him and with whom he could jest. Occasionally, our probes would yield news for his extensive business interests, but nothing more than that. His social affairs were never divulged even when we pressed him for news of any romance in his life, any chance that he would be accompanied on his return him by the love of his life. He dismissed us with a shrug and a laugh. Those interests never interfered with his writing. He would return from his American trip refreshed and eager to delve into the mountain of work which they growing number of sport events throughout this county demanded. He did all this without complaint - that same reserve with which he kept secret his short illness and which ended with his sudden death . To say we were shocked and saddened is an understatement. Peace to his gentle soul. Courtesy of The Mayo News 20th July 2005 By Sean Rice Tweet

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