Editor bows out

by Democrat reporter

DAVID GRANVILLE has confirmed that he is to stand down as editor of the Irish Democrat at the end of the summer, after over seven years in the post.

His announcement, which leaves the future of the paper in considerable doubt, is the result of a period of indifferent health and growing family commitments.

However, he will continue to update the Irish Democrat website until such time as replacement can be found.

“This has probably been one of the most difficult decisions that I have ever had to make, but in the end it is the right one for me personally and for my family who have been incredibly supportive over the years,” said David Granville.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the all those who have contributed to the paper during my time as editor, particularly all those who, like myself, have contributed regularly on a voluntary basis, and without whom it would not have been possible to produce such a consistently high-standard publication.

“It has been a tremendous honour to have been able to serve the Connolly Association, the oldest campaigning organisation of the Irish and their friends in Britain and to have been given the opportunity to continue, with considerable trepidation on my part and, I hope, a degree of humility, the work of the late-great Desmond Greaves and the many others who have championed the cause of Irish freedom and justice through the pages of the Irish Democrat.”

Although the Connolly Association had not yet given up hope of finding a replacement, it was looking very unlikely that the print version of the paper would continue beyond the summer, he said.

“However, if there are members of the Association out there who think that they have the right combination of political, journalistic and IT skills, and the spare time to take on such a task, we’d certainly like to hear from them.”

The Connolly Association can be contacted via The Four Provinces Bookshop tel 020 7833 3022 or on 020 7503 1273 (CA office) or via the website by writing to editor@irishdemocrat.co.uk