I met my husband thanks to Northside People

THE year of 2004 was a time of many firsts. The first sheepish phonecall to an editor, the first published article, the first combative interviews, the first curveball questions, the first newsroom experience, the first time I fell hopelessly in love with journalism.

As a primary school teacher with an undiminished childhood itch to be a journalist, then Northside People editor Neil Fetherston thankfully answered the phone the day I finally summoned the courage to give voice to my plan of action.

He needed pages filled and I needed newspaper cuttings in order to apply for a Masters in Journalism in Dublin City University.

One of my first articles concerned the so-called

‘Savage 16’ cutbacks by then Social Welfare Minister Mary Coughlan in 2003 (long before the boom to bust) and the impact the changes were having on vulnerable communities.

From then onwards, all extra curricula time, post-school hours, was consumed with writing for Northside and Southside People newspapers, on everything from the first Luas journey, the GAMA controversy, high-rise building planning applications and illegal dumping, to interviewing the

‘Rottweiler’ Michael McDowell,

‘You’re a Star’ contenders and Ronnie Drew.

“You don’t take notes as you are going along, you just learn from experience,

? Drew told me in an interview for Northside People at the time – a nod to wise living which I still haven’t quite mastered.

Indeed, as part of my expanding newspaper clippings portfolio, I interviewed a fellow teacher for the first and last time in early 2004. At the time, he longed to represent the inner city at council level, while I was moving ever closer to resigning from my permanent, pensionable job to become a full-time student again.

That encounter between two teachers took place over eight years ago and every year since I toast Northside People for sending me out to the write about conditions in the Ballybough and Sean McDermott Street flats to meet my now husband, now TD Aodháin � Riordáin.

Often, too, I reminisce about the Thursdays sat in the Northside People newsroom as a journalism student, patiently waiting for the phone calls from local politicians and groups offering a pick

‘n’ mix bag of story treats.

Never since have I been able to rely on such routine weekly story hand-outs, having worked in The Irish Independent, The Irish Examiner and The Irish Times.

Wherever and whenever I’ve spoken about my journalism journey, I’ve always credited the Northside People and Southside People for giving me my start, and imparting the skills, empathy and curiosity that today sustain me as a journalist.

The Dublin People Group of Newspapers was and remains the link between local representatives, campaigners, communities and the wider population. So often, they give voice to those who are truly voiceless.

I, for one, will be forever thankful.

?¢ Aine Kerr is political editor with Storyful.com