A serious dilemma faced him, with the choice of a full-time post at �St Joe�s,� or a three-months contract as a producer with the BBC in Belfast. Broadcasting won, and he has never looked back!

Moving to Downtown Radio as a presenter, he hosted early-morning and weekend programmes for five years, with huge audiences, later doubling up as a presenter with Ulster Television and Downtown Radio.

And then there is his big-brother image on �The School Around the Corner.� Explaining the rapport, which enables him to put children at their ease, he points to the training as a teacher. Also, the fact that he has a ten-year-old daughter, Laura, has come in handy.

During the summer, he and Adrian Logan co-host a sports programme, �End to End,� on Thursday evenings. Indeed, one of the highlights of his career came while broadcasting a Gaelic football match from Croke Park, and realised that he was commentating from the same box as his boyhood hero, the late Michael O h-Eiher (Michael O�Hare.)

Another high-point arose when he was covering the official opening of the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Dublin, and found himself interviewing Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Swartzenegger.

Frank�s most vivid memory from the Troubles was the funeral of hunger-striker, Bobby Sands. Living in lodgings off the Falls Road, while at teacher training college, he watched the thousands in the cortege, and was particularly struck by the large contingent of famous media personalities.

But the conflict affected him personally, when a close friend, Mattie Campbell from Burren, was killed in a no�warning bomb attack on the Ulster Bar at Warrenpoint, during the mid-70�s. The �Mattie Campbell Memorial Cup� has been competed for at Burren Youth Club.

With fond memories of playing on the various Burren sides, at schoolboy, minor and senior level, he especially recalls being part of that historic St Mary�s squad, which finally won the All-Ireland Club Championship title in 1986.

�Watching Paddy O�Rourke raise the Sam Maguire Cup was a special moment for everyone, just like when Tommy McGovern received the All-Ireland Club Championship trophy. That reminded me of the late Sean Murdock. He always said it could be done, but never lived to see it. I�m sure he was smiling down on both events.�

Frank�s father must have been very proud when, as chairman of Burren Youth Club, he presided over the official opening of brand-new premises in 1975, performed by Divisional Youth Officer, the late Jack Macken.

Mr Frank McClorey (senior) said: �A dream has become a reality for the children of the district, due to the large number of men and women, who have in common a love of involvement with youth at spiritual, physical and sporting level.�

And as the St Mary�s GFC squad, including his son, was leaving on a U.S tour, following their victory in the 1986 All-Ireland Club Championship Final, he sent an official message on behalf of the club committee.

�You embark on the greatest journey of your lives, as ambassadors, not alone of Burren, Down and Ulster, but also as All-Ireland champions. I know that you will do all Ireland proud.�

Meanwhile, a memorable occasion, involving the UTV star, came when Frank Mitchell sprang a �This Is Your Life� surprise on the legendary Lottie McKeown from Derrybeg estate, celebrating her 80th birthday. Tributes to this great lady�s sterling community work were paid during the event, in the middle of a concert at Newry Town Hall.

Finally, Frank commented: �I have lived in Belfast for 20 years; but a visit to Burren is my own and my daughter�s favourite outing. I think that she would love to live there.� And who wouldn�t!

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