The last bastion of male dominance in Irish daily newspapers has mercifully fallen. "The Irish Times", long regarded as the country's "thinking man's newspaper", has appointed as its editor Geraldine Kennedy, one of the foremost professional journalists in the country.

That a woman has qualified on merit alone to become the editor of such a prestigious journal is cause for celebration not only by members of her sex but by the country at large which, twice in succession, has elected women to the post of Head of State, President of Ireland.

A native of Tipperary, she has come a long way in her journey to the top post in "The Irish Times". Political correspondent for the "Sunday Tribune" 1980-82, ditto for the "Sunday Press" 1982-87, elected a member of the Dáil (Irish Parliament) 1987, and on leaving politics became Political Correspondent, Political Affairs Correspondent, Political Editor, Duty Editor, culminating in her appointment at age 51 as the Editor.

As this web site has already chronicled the story of two pioneering Irish newspaper women, the sisters Eily and Marie McAdam, editors in turn of "The Donegal Vindicator", (see The Vindicator Story) it is a pleasant duty to congratulate not only Geraldine Kennedy but also "The Irish Times" on her appointment.

No leading daily in Canada has yet seen fit to appoint a woman to the top editorial position, although many of the country's foremost journalists are women.

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