On a wall a few steps from Ruadhán Mac Cormaic’s third-floor office in Tara Street, Dublin there are paintings of some of his predecessors as editor of The Irish Times. The first one I spot is the rotund, legendary RM ‘Bertie’ Smyllie (1934-1954). Alongside him there’s Douglas Gageby (1963–1974, 1977–1986) and Conor Brady (1986-2002). Towering figures all, in the story of Irish newspaper journalism. “You’ll be up there one day,” I tell Mac Cormaic. I’m not expecting him acknowledge this observation. We’re an hour and a half into the interview and I’ve learned enough about him to know he’s not…

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