JOURNALIST GEMMA O’DOHERTY is to speak at the Midlands first TEDx conference in Longford this evening.

O’Doherty is due to talk about “how the Irish media allowed corruption to thrive”.

She has worked in journalism for a number of years. Throughout the years, she was a chief features writer with The Irish Independent and has contributed to The Sunday Times, Daily Mail and Village Magazine.

O’Doherty is best known for her investigation into the 1985 death of Fr Niall Molloy, writing a number of articles alleging a possible cover-up by gardaí and some members of the political establishment at the time.

In 2013, she was made compulsorily redundant by The Irish Independent.

O’Doherty wrote an article about the then-garda commissioner Martin Callinan having penalty points wiped from his licence.

She had a Pulse file to that effect in her possession, but to make sure that he was the same person, she went to visit his home. O’Doherty was dismissed from her job at Independent News and Media shortly afterwards, and later settled a suit for wrongful dismissal.

She has also recently given evidence at the Disclosures Tribunal.

TEDx events are independently run and designed to share ideas and spark conversation in local communities.

The theme for TEDxLongford is “Change Makers”, with six guest speakers from Ireland and the US.

US activist Chas Jewett is due to speak about that topic “Change Makers require radical authenticity, resilience and enormous amounts of love”.

Founder of Feasta and Sustainable Projects Ireland Davie Philip will speak about “community resilience in times of rapid change”. Businessman and competition advocate Seamus Maye will address the audience about public and community banking.

ICSA president Patrick Kent and local educator and environmentalist Anna Kavanagh are also due to speak at tonight’s event.

TEDxLongford was created by local teacher and filmmaker Shane Crossan.

“The time has come for us to start imagining a better way of living. The purpose of TEDxLongford is to bring together speakers from a wide range of backgrounds, who together will give us some ideas on how we can create a better world for ourselves and our children,” he said.

The event takes place at 7.30pm this evening at the Backstage Theatre.