Bob Hughes new director of Local Ireland Bob Hughes, appointed Executive Director of Local Ireland. Picture: Paul Jones/meathphotos.ie LOCAL Ireland, the representative association for 46 weekly paid for newspapers and the largest publishing representative body in Ireland, has week announced the appointment of Bob Hughes as Executive Director of the association with effect from January 1. Mr Hughes succeeds Johnny O’Hanlon who had been director since 2009 and retired on December 31, 2020. Mr Hughes began his career in local and regional newspapers before moving to Fleet Street to become a sub-editor at the Press Association. He joined ITN where he was a producer on Channel 4 News before moving to Reuters/Sky as a programme editor, reporter and producer. He then joined Radio Ireland/Today FM before becoming Deputy Director of News at TV3 from its launch until 2014.