{{Short description|Irish journalist (1941–2019)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=September 2017}}
'''Muiris Mac Conghail''' (12 May 1941 – 25 November 2019)<ref>[https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/1126/1095185-muiris-macconghail/ Writer, programme-maker Muiris Mac Conghail dies, RTE 26 November 2019]</ref> was an Irish journalist, writer, broadcaster, poet, and film-maker.
==Early life== Mac Conghail was born in Dublin, son of artists Marcus Mac Conighail and Aida Kelly. His father, a cousin of Harry Clarke, had been a republican activist during the Irish War of Independence before studying, and then teaching, at the RHA schools.<ref>''Irish Art 1900-1950'', Rosc, 1975.</ref>
Mac Conghail was educated at University College Dublin.
==Career== He joined Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) in the 1960s, one of a group of young broadcasters which included Aindreas Ó Gallchóir,<ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/obituaries/2011/0723/1224301190831.html Gaeilgeoir whose media career spanned four eventful decades] ''Irish Times'', 2011-07-23.</ref> Breandán Ó hEithir, James Plunkett Kelly, Donal Farmer and Seán Mac Réamoinn. He became producer and editor of the current affairs programme ''7 Days'', which started broadcasting in 1966.<ref>Horgan, John. ''Broadcasting and Public Life: RTÉ News and Current Affairs 1926–1997''. Four Courts Press (2004). {{ISBN|1-85182-839-7}}</ref> He won a Jacob's Television Award in 1967 and 1985.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/muiris-mac-conghail-obituary-broadcaster-who-guided-rté-s-current-affairs-in-its-early-years-1.4099504 Muiris Mac Conghail obituary: broadcaster who guided RTÉ's current affairs in its early years. Irish Times, 30 November 2019]</ref>
In May 1973, he was appointed Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach and Head of the Government Information Bureau.<ref>[http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/1973/05/02/7/ Dáil debates]</ref> I
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'.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/about/pressreleases/05022002.html RTÉ Press Release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909224705/http://www.rte.ie/about/pressreleases/05022002.html |date=2009-09-09 }}</ref>
==Personal life== Mac Conghail married Máire Doran and they have five children, including Fiach, former Director of the Abbey Theatre.<ref>[http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/how-maire-traced-her-ancestors-227947.html 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) {{ISBN|0-946172-12-9}} * ''The Blaskets – People and Literature'' * ''Politics by Wireless: News and Current Affairs on Radio'', 1926–2000 (2001) * Essay on David Thornley in ''Unquiet Spirit: Essays in memory of David Thornley''. Edited by Yseult Thornley (Liberties Press)
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mac Conghail, Muiris}} Category:1941 births Category:2019 deaths Category:20th-century Irish writers Category:21st-century Irish writers Category:Irish-language writers Category:Alumni of University College Dublin Category:Irish broadcasters Category:Irish television producers Category:Jacob's Award winners Category:Broadcasters from Dublin (city) Category:RTÉ executives Category:RTÉ newsreaders and journalists Category:Mac Conghail family