JOHN McALEER, AGE 66, TALLAGHT

I met John McAleer at his workplace in the South Dublin County Council buildings in Clondalkin where I recorded a fascinating account of a life involved in printing. John described, stage by stage, his progression in the printing world, as he served his apprenticeship as a compositor, and then worked on bookbinding and leather tooling. He started his trade in the Dublin Print and Paper Company, North Frederick Street. In 1972 he worked on ‘Creation’, a publication run by Hugh McLoughlin and Vincent Browne. He joined the Irish Press in 1979, working there for 12 years. The work practices and some of the characters like Con Houlihan, with whom he worked closely, are described. He also speaks about his present work in the County Council as a graphic designer.