{{short description|Irish street artist, media personality, author and environmentalist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Don Conroy | image = | image_size = 150px | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | other_names = "Uncle Don", " The Don", ”Banksy” | known_for = Preserving wildlife, his slots on ''The Den'' during which he would teach the children of Ireland how to draw. Notabale street art around UK and Ireland. | education = Oatlands College and Life drawings and culture at the National College of Art and Design | occupation = Artist, environmentalist, writer, television personality | term = | spouse = | partner = | children = 5 | signature = | website = http://donconroy.com/ | footnotes = }} '''Don Conroy''' is an Irish street artist, environmentalist, television personality and writer of children's literature. His artistic and literary work focuses on natural themes, including wildlife. He works for wildlife conservation in Ireland and made regular appearances on ''The Den'' since it began in 1986, becoming the longest continually serving member of the cast.
==Early life and education== Don Conroy grew up in Donnybrook, Dublin, near Herbert Park. He has four siblings. He attended Oatlands College, a Christian Brothers school in Stillorgan. He was encouraged by his mother and extended family to draw.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Medcalf |first=David |date=29 July 2010 |title=Forever putting life into wildlife |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/news/forever-putting-life-into-wildlife-27716506.html |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=Wexford People |language=en |via=Independent.ie}}</ref> Conroy studied at the National College of Art and Design and then worked as designer and illustrator for advertising agencies as well as in the theatre.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Courtney |first=Kevin |date=7 May 2011 |title=Then & now Don Conroy, artist |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/then-now-don-conroy-artist-1.565555 |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> He was in amateur dramatic productions with the Lantern Theatre and the Guinness Players, and was awarded a diploma from The Royal Irish Academy in Speech and Drama. He appeared as an extra in a number of films in the 1970s and 1980s,<ref name=":0" /> including ''The Big Red One''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freyne |first=Patrick |date=2020-04-09 |title=Don Conroy's Isolation Diary: Lee Marvin says, 'Hey, kid, I like you. You're not full of s***' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/visual-art/don-conroy-s-isolation-diary-lee-marvin-says-hey-kid-i-like-you-you-re-not-full-of-s-1.4223499 |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== Conroy made his first appearance on Irish television in 1982 on the ''Late Late Show'', going on to present his own show, ''Paint For Fun.''<ref name=":1" /> From 1986 Conroy made regular appearances on ''The Den'', becoming the longest continually serving member of the cast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O’Keeffe |first=Donal |date=2019-08-22 |title=Art of the matter: Don Conroy on why he worries for Greta Thunberg |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/lifestyle/features/art-of-the-matter-don-conroy-on-why-he-worries-for-greta-thunberg-945638.html |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=IrishExaminer.com |language=en}}</ref> He has also appears publicly, at libraries, schools and elsewhere, where he entertains children with stories and drawings of various animals, in much the same capacity as his role on ''The Den''. After The Den, Conroy hosted his own show again, ''The Art of Don.'' One of his favourite animals is the barn owl.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Cónal |date=1 April 2020 |title=Don Conroy launches his new Youtube channel: 'People want their kids to experience what they did when they were young' |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/people-want-their-kids-to-experience-what-they-did-when-they-were-young-don-conroy-launches-his-new-youtube-channel-5063839-Apr2020/ |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=TheJournal.ie |language=en}}</ref> Conroy appeared at Electric Picnic giving art classes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyne |first=Paula |date=2016-08-10 |title=Heads Up Nineties Kids, Don Conroy Will Be Giving Art Classes At Electric Picnic |url=https://stellar.ie/trending/heads-up-nineties-kids-don-conroy-will-be-giving-art-classes-at-electric-picnic/36446 |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=Stellar.ie |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, Conroy restarted ''Draw with Don'' as a YouTube channel in response to the COVID-19 social restrictions in Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 April 2020 |title=Don Conroy launches 'Draw with Don' YouTube channel |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2020/0401/1127852-don-conroy-launches-draw-with-don-youtube-channel/ |access-date=11 May 2020 |work=RTÉ TEN}}</ref>
===Conservation=== Conroy played a part in the project to reintroduce the golden eagle to Ireland, was involved in establishing a sanctuary for whales and dolphins in Irish waters,<ref name=":1" /> and other events highlighting issues relating to endangered animals and habitats such as World Curlew Day 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-21 |title=Minister Madigan launches World Curlew Day 2020 |url=https://www.chg.gov.ie/minister-madigan-launches-world-curlew-day-2020/ |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht}}</ref> He is an honorary member and patron of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.ipcc.ie/about-us/ |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=Irish Peatland Conservation Council |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Selected writing== * ''Wings'' trilogy: ''On Silent Wings'', ''Wild Wings'' and ''Sky Wings'' * ''Cartoon Fun with Don Conroy''<ref name=":1" /> * ''Vampire Journal''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-14 |title=Ages 8-12 |url=https://donconroy.com/books/ages-8-12/ |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=Don Conroy |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''What the Owl Saw'' * ''The Fox's Tale'' * ''Joey's Big Day''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-14 |title=Ages 4-7 |url=https://donconroy.com/books/ages-4-7/ |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=Don Conroy |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''The Bookworm Who Turned Over a New Leaf'' * ''Elephant at the Door''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-14 |title=Ages 6-9 |url=https://donconroy.com/books/readers-aged-6-9/ |access-date=2020-05-11 |website=Don Conroy |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Family == Conroy and his wife Gay<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 October 2013 |title=Don Conroy's Musical Heirlooms |url=https://www.newstalk.com/uncategorized/don-conroys-musical-heirlooms-717558 |website=Newstalk}}</ref> have five children, and has a home in County Wexford, near Enniscorthy.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://donconroy.com/ Official website]
{{Portal |Children's literature}}
{{The Den}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conroy, Don}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the National College of Art and Design Category:Birdwatchers Category:Irish artists Category:Irish cartoonists Category:Irish children's writers Category:Irish environmentalists Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Irish horror writers Category:20th-century Irish illustrators Category:21st-century Irish illustrators Category:Irish mystery writers Category:Irish television personalities Category:Irish conservationists Category:20th-century Irish writers Category:20th-century Irish male writers Category:21st-century Irish writers Category:21st-century Irish male writers Category:People educated at Oatlands College Category:People from Donnybrook, Dublin Category:Artists from Dublin (city) Category:Writers from Dublin (city) Category:Broadcasters from County Dublin