Frank McDonald (born 1950) is an author, journalist, environmentalist and former environment editor of The Irish Times.
Frank McDonald | |
|---|---|
 McDonald speaking at the Walking Festival to End Dereliction, Dublin 2021 | |
| Born | 1950 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | St. Vincent's C.B.S. Glasnevin |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin (UCD) |
| Occupation(s) | Writer and journalist |
| Employer | The Irish Times |
| Spouse | Eamon Slater |
Career
editMcDonald began his journalism career as a freelance New York Correspondent for the Irish Press newspaper from 1972 to 1973, sub-editor with the Irish Press from 1973 to 1977 and reporter from 1977 to 1978. He joined the Irish Times in 1979, becoming Environment Correspondent in 1986, a post which he held until he was appointed Environment Editor in 2000.[1] Throughout his career, his writing has focused on planning and development in Dublin, from the demolition of parts of Georgian Dublin to the effect of Airbnb.[2][3] He was a founding member of the Academy of Urbanism of Great Britain and Ireland.[1] McDonald retired from the Irish Times in 2015.[4]
Awards
edit- Outstanding Work in Irish Journalism, 1979
- Lord Mayor's Millennium Medal, 1988[5]
- Chartered Institute of Transport Journalist of the Year, 1998
- ESB National Media Award for Campaigning Journalism, 1999
- ESB National Media Award for Features (Print), 2003
- Lord Mayor's Award, 2003
- Honorary D.Phil., Dublin Institute of Technology, 2006
- Press Fellow, Wolfson College, Cambridge, Lent Term, 2008
- Honorary member, Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, 2010
- Honorary fellow, Royal Institute of British Architects, 2011[1]
- Honorary Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, 2019[4]
Bibliography
edit- The Destruction of Dublin, Gill and Macmillan, 1985
- Saving the City, Tomar, 1989
- Ireland's Earthen Houses (jointly with Peigin Doyle), A&A Farmar, 1997
- The Ecological Footprint of Cities (editor), International Institute for the Urban Environment, 1998
- The Daily Globe: Environmental change, the public and the media (contributor), Earthscan, 2000
- The Construction of Dublin, Gandon Editions, 2000
- Chaos at the Crossroads (jointly with James Nix), Gandon Books, 2005[5]
- McDonald, Frank; Sheridan, Kathy (2008). The Builders. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-141-03780-6.[6]
- Truly Frank (2018)[7][8]
Personal life
editHe was born in Dublin in 1950, growing up in Cabra.[9] He was educated at Kelly's Private School Cabra Road, St. Vincent's C.B.S. Glasnevin and University College Dublin,[5] graduating with a BA (History and Politics) in 1971. During his time in UCD, he was editor of the Observer from 1970 to 1972, deputy president of Students' Representative Council from 1970 to 1971.[citation needed]
He has lived in the Temple Bar area of Dublin[3] since 1995.[10] He married his long-term partner, Eamon Slater, in 2016.[2]
In 2010, he admitted to hitting a female manager in the River House Hotel in Eustace Street, after becoming frustrated with the high level of noise coming from the hotel's Mezz bar and nightclub.[11] In a subsequent licensing case, the Dublin Circuit Court heard that complaints about the premises dated back over 15 years and the judge said they were "well-grounded", but the licence was ultimately renewed.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Frank McDonald | Judging Co-Ordinator". architects-awards. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ a b Barry, Aoife (1 December 2018). "Frank McDonald: 'I wanted to paint a picture of Ireland in the 50s and 60s - it was a different country'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ a b O'Toole, Jason (7 November 2018). "The Full Hot Press Interview with Frank McDonald". Hotpress. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ a b Holland, Kitty (9 December 2019). "Former Irish Times journalist honoured by College of Surgeons". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ a b c "Architecture Foundation: Biographies" (PDF). Wayback Machine. 28 September 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ "A review of 'The Builders' by Kathy Sheridan and Frank McDonald". Sunday Tribune. 12 October 2008.
- ^ Harris, Anne (27 October 2018). "Frank McDonald's memoir takes on politicians, Catholicism and 'The Irish Times'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Gleeson, Colin (30 October 2018). "More than 100 people attend launch of 'Truly Frank' in Dublin". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ McDonald, Frank. "Frank McDonald: 'It took me years to accept who I am. I'm still working on it'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ "Frank McDonald". Dublin Inquirer. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Managh, Ray (5 May 2010). "Journalist hit hotel woman for 'smirking' - Herald.ie". Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Judge lifts live music ban on Dublin hotel". The Irish Times. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2020.