Hugh Gallagher: Author, Lensman, Creggan Champion
- Colmcille Press
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
Our great friend and most-talented colleague Hugh Gallagher has died this morning (September 29), at the age of 76, after a long illness. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.
Over the past 40 years, Hugh had worked with virtually every publishing organisation in the North West, starting his media career as a volunteer and later staff photographer with Fingerpost in the mid-80s. A gifted humorist, he published his first book, The Spectator and Other Derry Stories (illustrated by Cormac Downey) in 1990 with his good friend Eamon Deane's Yes Publications.
In his spare time, he became the lensman for Cityview, the official Derry City FC programme, travelling up and down the country with The Candystripes after their re-entry into senior football.
And he also worked for many years with the Derry Journal and the Derry News as both a columnist and freelance cameraman.
With an archive of more than 40000 images, Hugh was, for a generation, a first source of pictures for Guildhall Press, Hive Studio Books and Colmcille Press/Cló Cholmcille. And he was always particularly delighted to cover book launches, loving nothing better than to swap stories with old friends and fellow authors.
Hugh published two books with Guildhall Press: A View of Derry (2008), a superlative collection of local photographs; and A Foyle Tale: The Toucan Venturer in Derry, which recounts the remarkable true story of how he worked as a supervisor on the attempted refit of a grounded ship, to bring supplies to famine-struck Ethiopia, and ended up living on board.
A dyed-in-the-wool Creggan man, Hugh was very proud to contribute to any book, periodical or pamphlet that promoted his home turf. He had lived in the same house in Melmore Gardens for 75 years. His photographs adorn virtually every wall in Ráth Mór - and can also be found in almost all books to emanate from the centre.
In retirement, Hugh kept busy writing short stories for the local newspapers, and magazines such as Ireland's Own. He also loved to publish and exhibit collages from his extensive archive. You were nobody in Derry until you had appeared in a Gallagher picture spread.
His generosity and community spirit was also evident to anyone who ever dealt with him.
Ráth Mór General Manager Kevin Hippsley paid tribute to his friend saying: ‘Hugh was a real talent, but so modest with it. Nothing was too much trouble for him - he loved to help and to see a job done well. He was a warm presence about the office, lifting us with his humour. But there was a great wisdom there too - and he contributed so much to so many books and so many projects.
'He is a real loss to all of us in the publishing sector, to Creggan and to Derry. Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam uasal.'
Former Derry Journal Editor Pat McArt paid this tribute: 'His archive of life in Derry over the past 40-50 years has got to be priceless. He was a chronicler of the everyday, of people going about their daily doings.
'These photos were never meant for newspapers or other media, but simply to record lives. That was what interested Hugh. I doubt if anyone else has anything that comes near.
'Condolences to his family and friends. He was a lovely man.'
