MICHAEL FORTUNE
I was very sad to hear of the death of Michael Fortune, an exceptional journalist, greyhound expert and enthusiast.
Like most people, I read Michael’s words long before I met him. I can’t remember whether it was in The Sporting Press or a terrific book he contributed to, published in the 1970s, Trap To Line.
When I finally met Michael I found him opinionated and passionate. We clashed on numerous occasions, often quite heatedly, but then I think we were so similar in temperament. We even shared the same birthday.
But when new IGB Chairman Paschal Taggart was in conflict with the ICC and suggested a paper to take on The Sporting Press, I had to swallow my pride and go cap-in-hand to Ireland’s premier greyhound journalist – by far. Our mutual friend, the late Seamus Graham was the go-between. Michael made me sweat, as I knew he would, before coming on board.
Michael made the difference between failure and success and when Ireland’s Greyhound Weekly was finally wound down, having become a better paper than The Sporting Press in my opinion (I had long since handed over the reigns to Malcolm and Julie Sharp) it had done its job and brought the belligerent ICC to heel.
During that period I got to know Michael better, along with wife Rita, who was always kind, charming and welcoming. Michael and I still clashed of course, I remember one occasion when I suggested his beloved Roy Keane was a thug in football boots, I thought Michael was about to give me a thigh high studs-up tackle.
When it came to greyhounds though, it took a brave or exceptionally well-informed man to pick an argument with the expert from Wexford.
I can’t pretend to have known the family man. We were fellow hacks, not close friends. But in an era of a million experts and TV pundits, Michael Fortune was the epitome of a professional greyhound journalist. A superb judge of greyhound flesh and a meticulous writer and broadcaster.
His voice was Irish greyhound racing.
He leaves a great heir to the throne in Ian, to whom, with sister Michelle, widow Rita and extended family, I send my sincere condolences.
Floyd Amphlett
