Irish eyes are smiling at The Press Association

The Press Association of Ireland has announced new appointments to its teams in Belfast and Dublin.

Ed Carty, who began his journalistic career with the weekly North Down and Ards Spectator in Bangor, County Down, has been appointed news editor of the Dublin office.

Carty joined PA’s training scheme in 2003 before moving to take up a regional reporter’s post in Cardiff. When the Dublin office opened just over three years ago he transferred to the expanded Irish operation.

Carty takes over from Steven McCaffery who is returning to Belfast to replace political editor and deputy Ireland editor Dan McGinn, who is leaving after 10 years to join the Information Service at the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont.

Brian Hutton, an Ex-Belfast Telegraph staffer, who has been with The Press Association of Ireland since 2006, has been appointed deputy news editor in Dublin.

Carty said: ‘The demands on the Dublin office have never been higher and I don’t underestimate the challenges up ahead. I’ve spent the past three years here, by far the most enjoyable of my career with the agency.”

The Press Association of Ireland editor, Deric Henderson, said: ‘Ed’s promotion as part of the Ireland staffing reshuffle was clear evidence that young and energetic trainees can really make their mark.

‘He did some work experience with me in Belfast before he joined the training scheme, and even then I knew he was somebody with the potential to become a first-class journalist. The demands on the Dublin office are heightening all the time.”