Sean Rice pictured with his award. PHOTO: SPORTSFILE

Long-serving Mayo journalist is feted by the Gaelic Writers' Association

Mayo journalist Sean Rice has received the Gaelic Writers’ Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was presented with the richly-deserved accolade at a ceremony last night in the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin.

This year the event was supported by Wilson Hartnell, celebrating their 50th year in business.

Sean was honoured for his contribution to the Mayo News and years of diligent and uncompromising reporting of GAA affairs in Mayo for the Connacht Tribune and The Connaught Telegraph going as far back as the late 1950s.

A native of Moneen, Castlebar, Sean is a resident of Islandeady.

The holder of a Diploma in Social Action from UCG, Sean joined The Connaught Telegraph as a general reporter in 1965, having previously worked for the newspaper in a freelance capacity for some years previously.

He joined the Connacht Tribune in 1973 as their Mayo correspondent and he subsequently covered the Tuam district.

Having retired from the Tribune he commenced writing a weekly sports column for the Mayo News, which he continues to pen each week.

He edited the histories of Castlebar Mitchels GAA and Westport GAA clubs.

He has won Connacht GAA Council sports coverage awards with the Connaught Tribune and Mayo News.

He is a lifetime member of the National Union of Journalists.

Along with Tom Brett, Sean wrote the book, 'We are Mayo', which was recently officially launched by Ireland's First Woman, Sabina Higgins.