Aged 66 and a native of Tuam, County Galway, Mr Cunningham was editor of the Connacht Tribune newspaper from 1984 to 2007. He had also worked as editor for the Waterford News and Star from 1982 to 1984. In 2006, he was conferred with an Honorary MA degree at NUI Galway for his contribution to regional and national journalism and for his role as lecturer of journalism at the college. John Cunningham was also a regular contributor to RTE current affairs programmes and on Galway Bay FM. He died yesterday evening (Tue) and is survived by his wife Nuala and his four sons Shane, Gary, Ivor and Enda.