RTÉ’s Midlands Correspondent Sinéad Hussey loves her job and is immensely proud of her native Longford

RTÉ’s Midlands Correspondent, Sinéad Hussey, loves her job and she is immensely proud of her native Longford. She speaks to Longford Life’s Trevor Quinn about her career in journalism 

Taking advantage of an unexpected opportunity and having the encouragement of supportive teachers played a big part in Sinéad Hussey building the confidence to carve out a successful career in journalism. 

The Longford town native loves her job and she has reported on many significant stories for the State broadcaster, including the horrific separate murders of three Gardaí and the historic 2011 visit by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for Newstalk. 

However, the RTÉ Midlands Correspondent's first foray into journalism came at Shannonside FM aged just 16 when a sports reporter was ill and she was asked at short notice to cover a Longford Town away match. 

She was paid £25 per match and was subsequently asked to report on many more games, so it obviously went relatively well! Despite this, she is very modest.

"I was working as a receptionist and it was a weekend job. I had a huge interest in sport and the GAA and I was asked to do it unexpectedly and I went out and I did a terrible job," she says. "After that I was travelling the length and breath of the country." 

Sinéad explained she was very lucky to receive great encouragement from teachers Marie Butler and Anita Griffin at Meán Scoil Mhuire. She is grateful they saw potential in her to become a journalist “before I even knew myself”. 

"My teachers were very supportive, particularly Ms Butler, who wrote in my journal, 'Remember me when you are a famous journalist on TV’," Sinéad says. "Now, I'm not famous and when I was younger I had no idea I would end up on TV. Radio was my first love and where I saw myself going." 

The Midlands correspondent, who lives in Mullingar with husband Brendan and their two young children, Aoibhín, aged seven and nine month old Darragh, saysMs Butler predicted it a long time ago. 

"She takes great pride telling me when she meets me," the journalist adds. 

Sinéad insists the encouragement from teachers was very important as journalism can often be a challenging career to navigate. 

"It's not like teaching or nursing where there is a clear route, journalism is kind of off the beaten path," she adds. 

Sinéad completed an arts degree at NUI Maynooth in 2003 and subsequently graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Communications Radio and Television twelve months later. 

Sinéad then began freelancing between North West Radio, LMFM and INN (a news network which supplied local radio with national news) before securing a full time job with Shannonside in early 2005. 

She was determined, and colleagues such as Gary Doyle, Joe Finnegan and Seamus Duke were very supportive.

"Everyone was very helpful and friendly. The guys who had more experience took me under their wing," she adds. 

Sinéad moved to Newstalk in October 2006, where she spent five years. 

"When [Queen Elizabeth] visited Croke Park I was alongside Fran McNulty of RTÉ and it was hugely significant and so historical," she adds. 

Sinéad also reported on the murders of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was shot dead during an armed robbery at a credit union in Bellurgan in January 2013, Garda Tony Golden who was killed at Omeath in October 2015, and the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea in June 2020. 

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Reporting on who they were and how much they were loved and admired by their families and communities was “a massive responsibility to get right", she says. 

Her advice to youngsters who have an interest in pursuing a career in journalism is to read lots, be friendly, listen to people, and meet and talk to people. 

"Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. It's very scary sometimes but don't be afraid to ask a stupid question," she says. "Most people are very helpful and kind."