Fergal Keane to receive Cork Hall of Fame award
Multi-award winning journalist Fergal Keane will receive a Cork Hall of Fame award at the upcoming Cork Person of the Year Gala Awards.
Mr Keane, one of the best-known international news correspondents, is only the second person to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of Ted Crosbie of the Irish Examiner.
The 58-year-old journalist started his career in newspapers in Ireland, then moved to broadcast journalism, firstly with RTÉ and then with the BBC.
He learned his speaking skills on the Presentation College Cork debating team. It was little wonder of course that he is such an accomplished performer, with a father who was the actor Eamonn Keane, and an uncle who was playwright John B Keane.
Another big influence was his mother Maura Hassett, a language teacher and part of Cork’s literary scene.
He has received an OBE for his services to journalism and as a war correspondent has covered Northern Ireland, South Africa and Asia.
The psychological effects of covering wars, such as the brutality of the Rwandan genocide leave a mark on any journalist, which was recognised by Amnesty International which has presented Mr Keane with a number of awards.
The Cork Person of the Year Award winner will be announced at a special gala lunch which takes place at the Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday, January 18.
