Muiris Mac Conghail (12 May 1941 – 25 November 2019) was an
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
journalist, writer, broadcaster, poet and film-maker.
Early life
Mac Conghail was born in
Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...
, son of artists Marcus Mac Conighail and Aida Kelly. His father, a cousin of
Harry Clarke
Henry Patrick Clarke (17 March 1889 – 6 January 1931) was an Irish stained-glass artist and book illustrator. Born in Dublin, he was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement.
His work was influenced by both the Art Nouveau and ...
, had been a republican activist during the
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence () or Anglo-Irish War was a guerrilla war fought in Ireland from 1919 to 1921 between the Irish Republican Army (IRA, the army of the Irish Republic) and British forces: the British Army, along with the quasi-mil ...
before studying, and then teaching, at the RHA schools.
Mac Conghail was educated at
University College Dublin
University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...
.
Career
He joined
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidi (; ; also written Ragdi; born August, 1938) is a Tibetan politician of the People's Republic of China. He served as a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from 2003 to 2008, and the highest ranking Tibeta ...
(RTÉ) in the 1960s, one of a group of young broadcasters which included Aindreas Ó Gallchóir,
Seán Mac Réamoinn
__NOTOC__
Seán Mac Réamoinn (27 November 1921 – 17 January 2007) was an Irish people, Irish journalist and broadcaster. He took a deep interest in Irish culture and language and religious affairs.
Mac Réamoinn was born in Birmingham, the thi ...
. He became producer and editor of the current affairs programme ''
7 Days Seven Days or 7 Days may refer to:
* Week, an amount of time
Film
* ''7 Days'' (2010 film) (''Les 7 jours du talion''), Canadian thriller film
* ''7 Days'' (2021 film), American romantic comedy film
* ''Seven Days'' (1925 film), American silent ...
'', which started broadcasting in 1966. He won a Jacob's Television Award in 1967 and 1985.
In May 1973, he was appointed Assistant Secretary at the
Department of the Taoiseach
The Department of the Taoiseach ( ga, Roinn an Taoisigh) is the government department of the Taoiseach, the title in Ireland for the head of government.Article 13.1.1° and Article 28.5.1° of the Constitution of Ireland. The latter provision re ...
and Head of the Government Information Bureau.
He was RTÉ Controller of Programmes, television, 1977–1980 and 1983–1986.
In 2001 he delivered the Thomas Davis Lecture to mark the 75th anniversary of Radio Éireann -'Politics by Wireless'.
Personal life
Mac Conghail married Máire Doran and they have five children, including
Fiach
Fiach is an Irish male given name. It may refer to:
* Saint Fiacc, fifth-century bishop of Sletty in Ireland
* Fiach McHugh O'Byrne (1534–1597) Irish chief
* Fiach Mac Conghail (born 1964) Irish theatre director and Senator
* Fiach Moriarty, ...
, former Director of the
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the pu ...
.Family /ref> They separated in the 2000 and divorced in 2007.
Mac Conghail married Mary Malone in 2008: they had lived together for the previous 16 years.
Select writings
* ''Aghaidheanna Fidil Agus Puicini'' (Biography of George Thompson)
* ''Island Funeral'' (1965)
* ''The Blaskets: A Kerry Island Library'' (1987)
* ''The Blaskets — People and Literature''
* ''Politics by Wireless: News and Current Affairs on Radio'', 1926–2000 (2001)
* Essay on
David Thornley
David Thornley (31 July 1935 – 18 June 1978) was an Irish Labour Party politician and university professor at Trinity College Dublin.
Life
Born in Surrey, England, David Thornley took out Irish citizenship. He received a BA and PhD at Trini ...
in ''Unquiet Spirit: Essays in memory of David Thornley''. Edited by Yseult Thornley (Liberties Press)