Ordinary people make the paper what it is

ONE of the first things you realise when writing for Northside People is the incredible rapport this great newspaper has with its readers.

I was lucky enough to begin writing for the Northside People in early 2006 and was blown away by the huge volume of people, from all walks of life, who were willing to tell their story to the paper.

For the two and a half years that I worked out of the offices in Omni Park Shopping Centre, Santry, the phones were literally off the hook with ordinary Northsiders on the other end, urging the paper to write about them, their community or a family member.

These were all decent Northside people from all areas and backgrounds willing to give a personal story and fully trusting that Northside People would tell it in a most meaningful way.

The upshot of it all was that during my time with Northside People I was fortunate to write some of the best stories I have worked on in over 15 years in journalism.

You could say that the paper was a voice for the people of the Northside, but that would be telling only half the story.

The real truth was that it was the people who gave their voice to the paper.

Without these locals, there could have been no Northside People.

So it is simply no surprise that the paper is celebrating its 25th year in existence.

During that time the Northside of Dublin has experienced some dramatic changes but one thing has remained constant and that is the ordinary people who make this part of the country great.

It is why I fully expect Northside People to go from strength to strength and enjoy another great and rewarding 25 years.

?¢ Keith Falkiner is a journalist with The Sunday Mirror