Peter (Peadar) O'Rourke

31 July 1933 - 2 February 2023

A Wonderful story teller, respected production journalist and stalwart of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

His great friendship with veteran Northern Ireland (NUJ member) John McNulty, was an example of how journalists from different traditions worked together to protect and defend journalism during the Troubles...

Thanks to Suzanne McGonagle and Peter’s NUJ comrades for their tribute in the Irish News.

Words of Remembrance

Peter (Peadar) O’Rourke was born in the North of Ireland on 31 July 1933. He and his older sister Maura, and younger brother Sean grew up with their loving parents, initially in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, then Newtownhamilton in south Armagh.

He enjoyed his schooldays as a boarder in Saint Patrick’s College situated behind Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh. Here he became the sociable friendly person that everyone will remember Peter as.

Peter’s career in journalism began in the 1950s when he became a cub reporter in a local newspaper in Armagh city. Legend has it that he was thumbing a lift home one day, and met a newspaper boss who asked Peter a few questions and said, we could do with a person like you.

After reporting in his native land, Peter moved to England for a few years where he met and married Rita from Portlaoise, and set up home, to become a loving father to his son Eamonn, and daughters, Fiona, Grainne and Siobhan. This year in April would have been their sixtieth wedding anniversary which Peter was looking forward to in his unique positive fashion.

Peter and Rita returned to Ireland in 1974, settling in Larne, where Peter became Editor of the Carrickfergus Advertiser, before joining the sports department of the Irish News Belfast, as a sub-editor. Here he showed his love and dedication to the furtherance of traditional Irish music by writing the Duchas column (originated by colleague Brendan McCourt) where he promoted musicians, singers and festivals.

On his return to Ireland, he became the favourite uncle of Kathie, Patricia, Stephen and Michael Corrigan, in Armagh, children of his sister Maura. They often holidayed in Larne and Peter like many fathers at that time managed to squeeze 8 kids into the back of the car to take them a scoot down to Carnlough for sweets and ice cream.

Peter also became a favourite relative in his wife Rita’s family based in England, Portlaoise, Tullamore, Tasmania, Tyrone. He enjoyed many a party and wedding with the O’Kanes of Pomeroy and loved to visit his County Tyrone cousins-in-law for lively chat and sing-songs. He was a big family man and kept in touch over the years with the Farrellys in Leitrim, England, and Cookstown.

Peter was a loving grandfather to Rachel and Freddie. He took them on trips to museums and to visit relatives, or simply to the seaside for ice cream and a paddle in the sea. He encouraged their learning through Reader’s Digest quizzes, TV quizzes, and by example with his love of books, newspapers, and belief in formal education, self-education and the arts. Peter was delighted to give a warm welcome to Rachel’s husband, Daniel and all the McPartlin family from Dublin, at their wedding in September 2022.

Peter believed you could never be bored or have nothing to do if you had a shelf filled with books. He was a self-taught man who inspired others to learn more. Generous with his knowledge, he helped anyone who needed advice, advocacy or a listening ear.

In 2006, he was honoured by the Committee of the Armagh Festival of Traditional Song for his contribution to the promotion of the song and music tradition of Ireland. They acknowledged his lifetime of dedication to his art and asserted that he belongs with the poets, musicians, and sages of this land.

They acknowledged in particular his years of promoting the Irish song and music tradition in his Duchas column in the Irish News and being such a central figure in the life of so many artists and performers throughout these islands.

Peter always approached life with a song in his heart and loved a good trad session at regional and All-Ireland Fleadhs, at parties, weddings, funerals, and NUJ conferences after the union business of the day. He promoted and attended cultural events such as the Bard of Armagh, and travelled the length and breadth of Ireland with his great friend Jim, among many others, to pursue his love of the Irish language, culture and heritage.

This year he was looking forward to his 90th birthday party where he would have sung a song or three with his family and friends.

Peter’s many past times included worldwide and local travel, swimming, going to the horse races with his many friends, particularly to the Cheltenham Festival for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He was a stalwart Committee person, supporting local education and the Saint Comgall’s Club, as well as many other local committees. He was a keen member of the church choir and Saint MacNissi’s choral society.

Peter was a big sports fan, football, GAA, rugby, horse racing, any sport would do. He was delighted when Armagh brought home the Sam Maguire after winning the All-Ireland in 2002. Luckily for Peter, when attending a school reunion, he got to hold the Sam Maguire Cup, when it was put on display at Saint Patrick’s College.

If you didn’t know already what an inspirational person Peter was, The Irish News summed it up nicely in their recent tribute when they described Peter as:

A wonderful storyteller, respected production journalist and stalwart of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The NUJ granted Peter life membership in 2011 and union officials described how his great friendship with veteran Northern Ireland member John McNulty, was an example of how journalists from different traditions worked together to protect and defend journalism during the Troubles. The NUJ said Peter was very proud of his union and of his association with the Irish News, and that Peter’s unwavering support for his NUJ colleagues, is the type of membership that is the very bedrock of the trade union movement.

During the pandemic lockdowns, Peter enjoyed sitting in his chair at the window with a clear view of the street and the outside world. Here he read the Irish News, Private Eye, and his books, drank big mugs of tea and enjoyed an occasional snooze. The chair and our world will never be the same without Peter.