Journalist Arthur Noonan, a renowned son of Mayo

by Auld Stock

Some years ago, when renovations were being carried out on a business premises on Ellison Street, Castlebar, formerly owned by Peter Dever, one of the workmen made an interesting discovery.

When the workman removed a skirting board, there was an inscription on the board.

The inscription read: '1943, the world war is doing shocking damage throughout the greater part of the world.

"Adolf Hitler and his Nazi jackbooters are plundering their way across Europe, killing thousands of innocent people on their murderous way. Who will win the war? The Allies, I sincerely hope. Signed: Arthur Noonan.'

I remember Arthur Noonan when he worked in the Mayo News.

He later joined the Irish Press and Irish Independent before moving to Radio Telefís Éireann as their chief political reporter.

Arthur married Frankie Farrell, whose family lived in a house at the entrance to McHale Road, later occupied by Vincent McHugh and family.

He was a genius when it came to electrical installations and repairing electrical equipment.

Arthur Noonan, a native of Belcarra, was a soft-spoken man, a wonderful journalist who could turn his hand to many activities, including complex electrical problems.

Mayo and Belcarra can feel proud of Arthur.