The death has occurred on January 8th of John Howard, a great storyteller, an old-school journalist and avid reader of, and letter writer to, this paper. He was born on January 27th, 1934, in Knocknamana, Clarecastle, Co Clare, the eldest of five children: John, Mary, Philip, Ethel and Paddy. Sadly, he lost both his father and brother Philip during his childhood and was the last of his siblings when he died. He grew up in Ennis attending school at St Flannan’s College, where he received an excellent education, in particular in Latin and Greek, forming the bedrock of the many languages he went on to learn. As a teenager he contracted rheumatic fever and, while this left him bed-bound for many months, it also gave him his love of radio, which fed into many things he held dear throughout his life: music, travel, politics and journalism.
In 1952, John joined the Clare Champion as a cub reporter, where he spent four years, in what he considered to be a “fabulous” training ground under the editor at the time, Larry de Lacey. He later moved to Dublin, joining first the Irish Independent and then, in 1960, The Irish Times, first as a general reporter, on the London desk, and then, in what he described as his “dream job”, as aviation correspondent. John moved to the RTÉ newsroom – radio and television – where he spent time reporting on the Troubles, and then into public relations at the ESB.
John married Mary Segrave on February 4th, 1967, in a double wedding with George Devlin, a fellow journalist and great friend, who married Mary’s beloved sister, Patricia. John and Mary had three children: Cathy, Philip and Trish, who married Andy, Niamh and Adrian, respectively. John’s six grandchildren – Cara, Emily, Oscar, Senan, Cian and Luca – brought him great happiness as the years went by; they always felt like a million dollars through the attention and respect he gave them.
Through his work, and over the years with Mary and his family, John travelled to many places, taking a great interest in the people, the language, the culture, the food and wine. His travels included India, Beirut, Jerusalem, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Florida, and multiple trips to Spain, Italy and France. John also loved to travel within Ireland: Doolin, the Burren, Kilmichael Point, Kilmore Quay, Achill Island, Roundstone, Lough Corrib and Valentia Island being among his favourite spots
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Although he spent the rest of his days living and raising his family in Dublin, Co Clare was always in John’s heart and his thoughts, with great memories of Ballyvaughan, Fanore, Lahinch and Kilkee and stories of the West Clare Railway and the Kilfenora Céilí Band, not to mention nights out in Lisdoonvarna and dances on “maple-sprung floors”.
John took huge joy out of family and friends coming together and in sharing conversation, thoughts and especially stories. He could tell a great story and loved nothing better than regaling a captive audience with tales of various deeds and misdeeds by himself, his friends, colleagues or politicians or judges or whoever. Everyone loved to listen to him and to laugh together: wonderful memories forever. But there was also, in these stories, something to think about; there was often a nugget of learning, or of wisdom in the story – something you could take away and reflect or contemplate on. John will be remembered for his attitude: open-minded, friendly and accepting; for being interested and interesting; for his kindness, gentleness and love; and for his learning and wisdom, conversation, and stories.
