Green contacts book was 'my bible' - memories of former Connaught Telegraph editor
By Tom Gillespie
IN the pre-computer era the most valuable asset for any journalist was his or her’s comprehensive contacts book. Without it you were lost.
Nowadays all contacts can be Googled or found on Facebook or your phone. No need for a notebook.
When I joined The Connaught Telegraph in August 1968 a list of all the most relevant telephone numbers was your everyday bible. These were gathered over several years.
My contacts book (pictured below) ended up tattered over the years but it never let me down.
My A-to-Z green book served me well as new contacts were added, others deleted or updated.
Before the telephone system went automatic the task of contacting someone over the phone was protracted, to say the least.
First you had to find, in the telephone directory, the number of the person you wished to speak to. Then you rang the operator, who in turn rang you back when she got through to the number requested.
When things went automatic you just dialled the number you wanted. It was a massive, welcome change.
I still have my green book, battered and tattered as it is, and leafing through it brings back so many memories of a wide variety of contacts, from politicians, entertainers, army and garda personnel and community leaders, all of whom were vital contacts.
The first entry in the book is that for Achill Tourism, with the contact back then being Karen Grealis, and the final entry being the number for the Western Strands Hotel in Belmullet.
Understandably, my list of garda contacts was extensive, from Achill Sound Garda Station with the telephone number Achill Sound 2 (most rural garda stations were 2) to the sergeant’s office in Westport on Westport 8.
Since the late 1960s so many of these garda stations have closed. My list included Balla, Ballina, Ballindine, Ballinrobe, Ballycastle, Ballycroy, Ballyglass, Ballyhaunis, Ballyvary, Bangor Erris, Bellacorick, Belmullet, Blacksod, Bonniconlon, Castlebar, Charlestown, Claremorris, Cong, Crossmolina, Foxford, Glenamoy, Glenisland, Hollymount, Keel, Kilkelly, Killala, Kilmaine, Kiltimagh, Knock, Lahardane, Mulranny, Newport, Partry, Shrule, Swinford, Tourmakeady and Westport.
Most of the smaller stations dotted around the county are now part of history.
A - Z LIST
Alphabetically, under ‘A' I had Lord Altamount, Ashford Castle, Army Press Office, and Darina Allen.
Under ‘B’ I had Justice Patrick Brennan, BBC Northern Ireland, John Bruton, Neil Blaney, Big Tom, Belfast Telegraph, and Ben Nevis Rescue.
The ‘C’ references included Ernie Caffrey, John Carthy, Cork Examiner, Donnie Cassidy, Austin Curry, Phil Coulter, Capital Radio, and Century Radio.
With ‘D’ I had Dublin Castle, Joe Dolan, Derek Davis and Dana.
Under ‘E’ I had very few - Evening Press, Evening Echo, EEC office, Dublin, and Department of Education.
The ‘F’ listings included Padraig Flynn, Mick Finlan (Irish Times), Dermot Flanagan, Beverley Flynn, and Tommy Fleming.
As well as the garda stations under ‘G’, I also had Brendan Grace, Denis Gallagher, Ann Geary, Tom Gilmore, and Greenpeace.
The ‘H’ entries included Shay Healy, Monsignor James Horan, Helicopter Rescue, Jim Higgins, Seamus Hughes, Noel Howley, and the High Court press office.
The ‘I’s’ page had Irish Association Manchester, ISPCA (John Fleming), Irish Kidney Association, Irish Press, Irish Independent, Inishturk post office, Irish Times, IFA, Irish Wildbird Conservancy, ITGWU, Irish Post, Irish Seal Sanctuary, Ireland West Tourism, Inishbiggle Post Office, Irish Naturists Association and Irish Red Cross.
With the ‘J’s’ I had Val Joyce, Japanese Embassy and James Joyce Pub, Brussels.
Under ‘K’ I had Enda Kenny, Ted Keane (Rose of Tralee), Knock Airport, Mark Killalea, Sandy Kelly, Fr. Michael Keane (Cupid priest), and Fr. Colm Kilcoyne.
Turning the page to ‘L’ I listed Dermott Langan, Paddy Lindsay, Tony Lavelle (London), and the London Irish News.
The ‘M’ contacts were Irish Mirror, Fr. Leo Morahan, Colm McCann, P.J. Morley, Paddy Muldoon, Fr. Benny McHale, Al McDonnell, Henry McGlade, Joe McCartin, Mayo Mountain Rescue, Des Mahon, Malin Head Coastguard, and Mayo 5000.
Leading the 'N’ list was Finbarr Nolan followed by the National Union of Journalists, Nuclear Energy Board, Archbishop Michael Neary, News of the World and Dr. John Neill.
In the ‘O’ section were Senator Martin J. O’Toole, Ombudsman, Andy O’Callaghan, Ed O’Brien (Knock Shrine Association of America), J.J. O’Hara, Teresa O’Malley, and John O’Mahony.
Not many stand out under ‘P’, with the exception of Willie Joe Padden, and in the ‘Q’s’, Tim Quinn, Brian Quinn and Paddy Quinn (Inishcuttle).
Leafing over to the ‘R’ section I find RTÉ, Nat Ruane, Tom Rowley, Sean Rice, Annie Mai Reape, Ryanair, Caitriona Ruane, Radio South, Paddy Rock, Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, Mary Robinson, Michael Ring, Jackie Rumley and Tommy Redmond, New Jersey.
On to ’S’ and I find Ernie Sweeney, Sealink, Sunday Tribune, The Star, Shannon Marine Rescue, Sunday Business Post, Sunday Times, Saw Doctors, Willie the Shoe, Liam Scallon and Lorna Siggins.
Looking at 'T’ we have the Daily Telegraph and Today FM.
Numbers filed in the ‘U’ section included Udaras na Gaeltachta and UTV.
The ‘V’s’ show up Vintners Federation of Ireland, VHI, Mayo Vintners and Austin Vaughan.
In ‘W’, through my contacts in the Castlebar International Song Contest, I find Terry Wogan, Western Health Board, Weather Forecast, Westport House, Louis Walsh, John Walkin, Western Care, West Midlands Police and Wolfhound Press, who had published many of Michael Mullen’s earlier books.
On the back page for quick reference I had written the height of Nephin Mountain (2,646 feet) and Croagh Patrick (2,510 feet), as well as bureaucratic, which at some stage I must have had difficulty spelling.
I returned the green book to the bookshelf.
It had rekindled many happy memories of ‘contacts’ many of whom have, sadly, joined the great contacts book in the sky, and who had made my job that little bit easier by their courtesy and cooperation.