Collected Journalism: Reviewing The Irish Times Book of the Year 2003 is like visiting old friends. The articles, the photographs and the images conjured up by both will be familiar to avid readers of the newspaper, writes Mary O'Rourke
All human life is here worked through the pens and lens of the vast array of journalistic talent which The Irish Times can summon up on domestic and international issues. Talent exhibited with passion, fury, criticism, disdain, enthusiasm and quirky humour - all reignite the feelings experienced upon first reading.
The first entry, Wednesday, October 2nd, 2002, is an article titled 'It's Making Your Mind Up Time', by Dick Warner, and is enchanting and different. We all associate Dick Warner with his wonderful writings about the rivers, lakes and tributaries of Ireland but in this article he is writing about the Baltic states in a warm and intimate way. The series is about the little-known capitals of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius and other exotic places, which from now on will gradually become familiar to us as the small states strut their stuff in the EU accession process. It is interesting because it shows the versatility of the writer working in another genre.
If I was to pick the most evocative and beautiful piece of writing, I would pick the article by John Banville on Prague, which was published on Saturday, August 10th, 2003, revisiting the historic city and viewing the Charles Bridge, known to so many for so many centuries.
'Living the Life of Ryan' by Shane Hegarty (cartoon by Peter Hanan), published on Saturday, August 23rd, captures strongly the personality of Ryan Tubridy - volatile, versatile, nervous, sometimes twitching but always engaging as he swanned through the Rose of Tralee competition.
The Kathryn Holmquist article, 'Where the Sun Always Shines', is a textual and visual cameo, as she recalls with nostalgia her home place, Cockle Cove Meadows, Chatham, Massachusetts. I remembered a short few days I spent some time ago in and around Chatham - and the liveliness of the language and pathos of Holmquist's writing induced nostalgia.
Delve again, into the many terrific articles and photographs about the Special Olympics. Travel on to Derek Scally in Stockholm, when he wrote, on September 12th, 2003, 'A Country Weeps for its Crown Princess', in which the dark side is so in your face that you weep again for the death of Sweden's foreign minister, Anna Lindh. In the accompanying photograph, Lindh dashes along on her rollerblades with great verve.
Suzanne Breen wrote, on Tuesday, November 5th 2002, from Kincasslagh as mammies' boy Daniel got himself a bride - lovely article and lovely picture (by Paul McErlane/Reuters) and I remembered again being slightly disconcerted by the fact that both bride and groom had their eyes open as they kissed lovingly.
Iraq is consistently covered throughout these pages, particularly well in a fine article by Mark Brennock on Saturday, February 8th. Its title sums up exactly what so many felt about that war: 'Lack of Democratic Consent Makes War on Iraq Wrong'.
Revisit again the pain of Denise Livingstone, who lost her baby, Bronagh, in Cavan General Hospital following a journey from Emyvale. Kitty Holland captures the pathos of a haunting story, the loss of a new-born baby.
Frank McNally is a very funny writer, often with deadpan humour, and a Dáil sketch of February 13th bears this out. He is writing about the difficulty Dáil deputies and journalists have in sometimes "translating" what the Taoiseach says in the Dáil and what he really means. It's humorous in the proper sense of the word, but the Taoiseach has the last laugh.
Conor O'Clery writes on May 8th of President McAleese's speech during a US visit when she highlighted the dark side of the Irish character and particularly our love affair with drink, which turns in many cases to violent addiction. A courageous speech by a courageous president. This reviewer could go on and on, picking out writers and photographers. Think of Tom Humphries, Gerry Thornley and Mary Hannigan, with their evocative writing on sport, but why not buy the book instead? It is beautifully put together by Peter Murtagh of The Irish Times, is assembled chronologically and can be dipped in and out of with fine enjoyment. But most of all it is a good read and would make a great gift. Our highs and lows as a nation, our joys and sadness as a people, are all here within the bright yellow covers of The Irish Times Book of the Year.
Senator Mary O'Rourke has been a minister in a number of government departments and is currently Leader of Seanad Éireann
The Irish Times Book of the Year 2003. By Peter Murtagh, Gill & Macmillan, 263pp. €24.99