Brendan McWilliams
Encyclopedia
Brendan McWilliams was an Irish
meteorologist
and science writer. He was born in Dublin in 1944 but grew up in Waterville, County Kerry
where his father was in charge of the Valentia Observatory. He graduated in science from University College Cork (UCC) in 1964. He joined the Meteorological Service in 1965 and worked as a weather forecaster, first at Shannon Airport
and later at the Central Analysis and Forecast Office in Dublin. During the 1970s he was a regular presenter of the daily weather forecast on Raidió Teilifís Éireann
(RTÉ) television.
In 1978, Brendan McWilliams became Head of the Meteorological Service at Dublin Airport
, and from 1981 to 1990 he was Head of Administration at Met Éireann
, the Irish Meteorological Service. In 1987 he obtained an MBA from the National University of Ireland Dublin and became Deputy Director of Met Éireann in 1990. He was appointed as Director of Administration of the European Meteorological Satellite Organisation based in Germany
in 1998 and retired in 2004.
Brendan McWilliams's daily "Weather Eye" column in The Irish Times
, began in 1988 and became one of the most popular features of the newspaper. For the last year of his life he made a weekly live contribution to Today with Pat Kenny
on RTÉ Radio 1
.
He died peacefully, after a short illness, on 22 October 2007.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
meteorologist
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
and science writer. He was born in Dublin in 1944 but grew up in Waterville, County Kerry
Waterville, County Kerry
Waterville, historically known as Carrean , is a village in County Kerry, Ireland, on the Iveragh peninsula. The town is sited on a narrow isthmus, with Lough Currane on the east side of the town, and Ballinskelligs Bay on the west, and the Currane River connecting the two.The town's name in Irish...
where his father was in charge of the Valentia Observatory. He graduated in science from University College Cork (UCC) in 1964. He joined the Meteorological Service in 1965 and worked as a weather forecaster, first at Shannon Airport
Shannon Airport
Shannon Airport, is one of the Republic of Ireland's three primary airports along with Dublin and Cork. In 2010 around 1,750,000 passengers passed through the airport, making it the third busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland after Dublin and Cork, and the fifth busiest airport on the island...
and later at the Central Analysis and Forecast Office in Dublin. During the 1970s he was a regular presenter of the daily weather forecast on Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
(RTÉ) television.
In 1978, Brendan McWilliams became Head of the Meteorological Service at Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport, , is operated by the Dublin Airport Authority. Located in Collinstown, in the Fingal part of County Dublin, 18.4 million passengers passed through the airport in 2010, making it the busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland, followed by Cork and Shannon...
, and from 1981 to 1990 he was Head of Administration at Met Éireann
Met Éireann
Met Éireann is the national meteorological service in Ireland, part of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.-History:...
, the Irish Meteorological Service. In 1987 he obtained an MBA from the National University of Ireland Dublin and became Deputy Director of Met Éireann in 1990. He was appointed as Director of Administration of the European Meteorological Satellite Organisation based in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1998 and retired in 2004.
Brendan McWilliams's daily "Weather Eye" column in The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
, began in 1988 and became one of the most popular features of the newspaper. For the last year of his life he made a weekly live contribution to Today with Pat Kenny
Today with Pat Kenny
Today with Pat Kenny is a current affairs magazine broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, presented by Pat Kenny. The programme is broadcast weekdays, at 10:00 and ends at 12:00. As of 2008, the average audience for the show was 291,000....
on RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
.
He died peacefully, after a short illness, on 22 October 2007.