R. M. Smyllie
Encyclopedia
Robert Maire "Bertie" Smyllie (1894 - 11 September 1954), was editor of The Irish Times
from 1934 until his death in 1954.
Short-sighted, massively overweight, given to wearing a poncho and sombrero, and cycling to work with his typewriter slung over the bars of his bicycle and a half bottle of Scotch sticking out of his pocket, he was one of the sights of Dublin.
Smyllie was born in Glasgow
. His father was a Scottish journalist who moved to Sligo
to edit the Sligo Times. Smyllie was educated at Sligo Grammar School
. He entered Trinity College, Dublin
in 1912. Working as a vacation tutor to an American boy in Germany at the start of World War I, he was interned in Ruhleben Prisoner of War Camp, near Berlin
, during the war. As an internee, he was involved in drama productions with other cosmopolitan internees and gleaned a wide political education.
On returning, he reported on the Versailles Treaty for The Irish Times, then edited by John E. Healy. He contributed to the still ongoing “Irishman’s Diary” column of the paper from 1927. In 1934, he was appointed editor of the paper, in succession to Healy. He established a non-partisan profile and a modern Irish character for the erstwhile ascendancy paper; for example, he dropped “Kingstown Harbour” for “Dun Laoghaire
”. He was assisted by Alec Newman
and Lionel Fleming, recruited Patrick Campbell
and enlisted Flann O’Brien to write his thrice-weekly column “Cruiskeen Lawn” as Myles na gCopaleen.
Press, 2006, ISBN 0748622772, (pages 26,37,45,59,77,87,104,138,144,176,183)
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
from 1934 until his death in 1954.
Short-sighted, massively overweight, given to wearing a poncho and sombrero, and cycling to work with his typewriter slung over the bars of his bicycle and a half bottle of Scotch sticking out of his pocket, he was one of the sights of Dublin.
Smyllie was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. His father was a Scottish journalist who moved to Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
to edit the Sligo Times. Smyllie was educated at Sligo Grammar School
Sligo Grammar School
"Sligo Grammar School" is a private fee paying co-educational boarding school located on "The Mall" in Sligo Town.The school has approximately 449 students of which approximately 103 are boarders. It offers the traditional Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate courses along with Transition...
. He entered Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in 1912. Working as a vacation tutor to an American boy in Germany at the start of World War I, he was interned in Ruhleben Prisoner of War Camp, near Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, during the war. As an internee, he was involved in drama productions with other cosmopolitan internees and gleaned a wide political education.
On returning, he reported on the Versailles Treaty for The Irish Times, then edited by John E. Healy. He contributed to the still ongoing “Irishman’s Diary” column of the paper from 1927. In 1934, he was appointed editor of the paper, in succession to Healy. He established a non-partisan profile and a modern Irish character for the erstwhile ascendancy paper; for example, he dropped “Kingstown Harbour” for “Dun Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
”. He was assisted by Alec Newman
Alec Newman
Alec Newman is a Scottish stage, television and film actor. He was born in Glasgow on 27 November 1974. Prior to joining the National Youth Theatre in London at age 17, he considered becoming a professional footballer...
and Lionel Fleming, recruited Patrick Campbell
Patrick Campbell, 3rd Baron Glenavy
Patrick Gordon Campbell, 3rd Baron Glenavy , known as Patrick Campbell, was an Irish journalist, humorist and television personality....
and enlisted Flann O’Brien to write his thrice-weekly column “Cruiskeen Lawn” as Myles na gCopaleen.
Further reading
- Mr. Smyllie, Sir, by Tony Gray, Gill & Macmillan Ltd, 1991, ISBN 0717117901
- Irish Media: A Critical History Since 1922, by John Horgan, Routledge, 1991, ISBN 0415216419, (pages 37,39,44-45,48, 62)
- Propaganda, Censorship and Irish Neutrality in the Second World War, by Robert Cole, Edinburgh University
Press, 2006, ISBN 0748622772, (pages 26,37,45,59,77,87,104,138,144,176,183)