Former Irish News editor Edward Gallagher has died. He was 89.

Also known as Ted, he edited the paper during the early 1980s.

His career at the Irish News began in 1929, when, aged 16, he got a job as an artist at the paper.

During the Second World War Ted signed up with the Irish army and served as press officer for the First Division.

After the war he became editor of the weekly newspaper The Kerryman, and by the time he left the paper in 1956 its circulation had doubled.

On leaving The Kerryman he became managing editor of Mercier Press in Cork, before returning to the Irish News in 1962 to become features editor and deputy editor.

In 1981 he became editor, and retired the following year.

Paying tribute to Ted, current Irish News editor Noel Doran said: “Ted Gallagher was one of the most distinguished journalists of his era and he made an outstanding contribution to the Irish News over many years.”

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