Muiris Mac Conghail is an Irish

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...

 journalist, writer, broadcaster and film-maker.

He was born in Dublin, son of artists Maurice MacGonigal and Aida Kelly. His father, a cousin of Harry Clarke

Harry Clarke

Harry Clarke was an Irish stained glass artist and book illustrator. Born in Dublin, he was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement.- History :...

, had been a republican activist during the Irish War of Independence

Irish War of Independence

The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...

 before studying, and then teaching, at the RHA

Royal Hibernian Academy

The Royal Hibernian Academy is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823.-History:The RHA was founded as the result of 30 Irish artists petitioning the government for a charter of incorporation...

 schools.

Mac Conghail was educated at Trinity College, Dublin

Trinity College, Dublin

Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...

, The Kings' Inns

King's Inns

The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...

 and the University of Edinburgh.

He joined 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) in the 1960s, one of a group of young broadcasters which included Aindreas O Gallochoir, Brendan O hEithir, James Plunkett Kelly, Donal Farmer and Seán Mac Réamoinn

Seán Mac Réamoinn

Seán Mac Réamoinn was an Irish journalist and broadcaster. He took a deep interest in Irish culture and language and religious affairs....

. He became producer and editor of the current affairs programme 7 Days

7 Days (Ireland)

7 Days was a Radio Telefís Éireann current affairs programme presented by Brian Farrell, Brian Cleeve and John O'Donoghue and broadcast in Ireland from 1966 until 1976.-Background:...

, which started broadcasting in 1966. He won a Jacob's Television Award

Jacob's Awards

The Jacob's Awards were instituted in December 1962 as the first Irish television awards. Later, they were expanded to include radio. The awards were named after their sponsor, W. & R. Jacob & Co. Ltd., a biscuit manufacturer, and recipients were selected by Ireland's national newspaper television...

 in 1967 and 1985.

In May 1973, he was appointed Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach

Department of the Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach is the government department of the Taoiseach of Ireland. It is based in Government Buildings, the headquarters of the Government of Ireland, on Merrion Street in Dublin....

 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'.

He married Máire Doran and they have five children, including Fiach

Fiach Mac Conghail

Fiach Mac Conghail is the Director of the Abbey Theatre. In May 2011, he was appointed as a Senator by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny.-Early life:...

, Director of the Abbey Theatre

Abbey Theatre

The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...

 and Cuan, TV editor and film-maker.

Select writings

• Aghaidheanna Fidil Agus Puicini (Biography of George Thompson)
• Island Funeral (1965)
• The Blaskets: A Kerry Island Library (1987) ISBN 0946172129
• The Blaskets — People and Literature
• Politics by Wireless: News and Current Affairs on Radio, 1926-2000 (2001)
• Essay on David Thornley
  David Thornley
  David Thornley was an Irish Labour Party politician and university professor at Trinity College, Dublin.-Political career:...
  
  in Unquiet Spirit: Essays in memory of David Thornley. Edited by Yseult Thornley (Liberties Press)

External links