Fiach Mac Conghail
Encyclopedia
Fiach Mac Conghail is the Director of the Abbey Theatre
. In May 2011, he was appointed as a Senator
by the Taoiseach
Enda Kenny
.
, is a filmmaker and broadcaster who served as Government Press Secretary and was Controller of Programmes at RTÉ
; his mother is a noted genealogist. Mac Conghail was raised in the Dublin suburb of Rathgar
and attended Coláiste Eoin
and later Trinity College, Dublin
, where he studied Economics and Politics.
from 1992 to 1999. He was the Director of Ireland's participation at the Expo 2000
world fair and acted as Cultural Programme Commissioner during the Irish Presidency of the European Union
in 2004. With his brother Cuan, he established the production company Brother Films in 1996.
Mac Conghail was a special adviser to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue
from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, he was appointed as Director of the Abbey Theatre.
in May 2011 and sits as an Independent
. He is the chairman of the We the Citizens, an initiative that aims to encourage the participation of the public in political affairs.
and they have two daughters.
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...
. In May 2011, he was appointed as a Senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
by the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
.
Early life
Mac Conghail's father, Muiris Mac ConghailMuiris Mac Conghail
Muiris Mac Conghail is an Irish journalist, writer, broadcaster and film-maker.He was born in Dublin, son of artists Maurice MacGonigal and Aida Kelly...
, is a filmmaker and broadcaster who served as Government Press Secretary and was Controller of Programmes at RTÉ
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...
; his mother is a noted genealogist. Mac Conghail was raised in the Dublin suburb of Rathgar
Rathgar
Rathgar is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, lying about 3 kilometres south of the city centre.-Amenities:Rathgar is largely a quiet suburb with good amenities, including primary and secondary schools, nursing homes, child-care and sports facilities, and good public transport to the city centre...
and attended Coláiste Eoin
Coláiste Eoin
Coláiste Eoin is an Irish language Catholic voluntary secondary Gaelscoil for boys, under the trusteeship of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust located in Booterstown, County Dublin, Ireland. It prides itself in the Irish culture, having successful hurling and football teams, traditional music bands,...
and later 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...
, where he studied Economics and Politics.
Career in the arts
Mac Conghail was the Artistic Director at the Project Arts CentreProject Arts Centre
Project Arts Centre is a multidisciplinary contemporary arts centre located in Dublin's Temple Bar that showcases cutting-edge visual art and performance....
from 1992 to 1999. He was the Director of Ireland's participation at the Expo 2000
Expo 2000
Expo 2000 was a World's Fair held in Hanover, Germany from Thursday, June 1 to Tuesday, October 31, 2000. It was located on the Hanover fairground , which is famous for hosting CeBIT...
world fair and acted as Cultural Programme Commissioner during the Irish Presidency of the European Union
Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union that rotates between the member states of the European Union every six months. The presidency is not a single president but rather the task is undertaken by a national...
in 2004. With his brother Cuan, he established the production company Brother Films in 1996.
Mac Conghail was a special adviser to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue
John O'Donoghue (politician)
John O'Donoghue is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Kerry South constituency from 1987 to 2011. He is a former Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas. He resigned as Ceann Comhairle on 13 October 2009 due to controversy about his...
from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, he was appointed as Director of the Abbey Theatre.
Public life
He was appointed to Seanad ÉireannSeanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
in May 2011 and sits as an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
. He is the chairman of the We the Citizens, an initiative that aims to encourage the participation of the public in political affairs.
Personal life
Mac Chongail is married to the actress Bríd Ní NeachtainBríd Ní Neachtain
Bríd Ní Neachtain is a board member of TG4.Ní Neachtain is a native of Connemara but now lives in Dublin. She is an actress, who's credits include Dancing at Lughnasa. A board member of Irish language broadcaster, TG4, she is of 2009 completing a Celtic Studies degree...
and they have two daughters.