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Frank McDonald (journalist)

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Frank McDonald
McDonald in 2021
Born(1950-01-24)24 January 1950
Dublin, Ireland
Died5 September 2026(2026-09-05) (aged 76)
Dublin, Ireland
EducationSt. Vincent's C.B.S., Glasnevin
University College Dublin (UCD)
OccupationsWriter and journalist
EmployerThe Irish Times
SpouseEamon Slater

Frank McDonald (24 January 1950 – 5 September 2026) was an Irish author, journalist, environmentalist and environment editor of The Irish Times.

Background

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Frank McDonald was born in Dublin on 24 January 1950, growing up in Cabra.[1] He was educated at Kelly's Private School on Cabra Road, St. Vincent's C.B.S. in Glasnevin and University College Dublin.[2]

He lived in the Temple Bar area of Dublin[3] from 1995.[4] He married his long-term partner, Eamon Slater, in 2016.[5]

McDonald died after a short illness, at Dublin's Blackrock Clinic on 5 September 2026, at the age of 76.[6]

Career

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McDonald began his journalism career as a freelance New York Correspondent for the Irish Press, leaving to join the Irish Times in 1979.[7] He became the Environment Correspondent for the Irish Times in 1986, a post which he held until he was appointed Environment Editor in 2000.[8] Throughout his career, his writing focused on planning and development in Dublin, from the demolition of parts of Georgian Dublin to the effect of Airbnb on the city.[5][3] McDonald's seminal work was The Destruction of Dublin, which identified anomalies in the Irish planning system, the destruction of cultural heritage and the overly close relationships between Irish politicians and notable property developers of the day and the previous decades.[9]

He was a founding member of the Academy of Urbanism of Great Britain and Ireland.[8] McDonald retired from the Irish Times in 2015.[7]

Controversy

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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.[10] 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.[11]

Awards

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Bibliography

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  • The Destruction of Dublin, Gill and Macmillan (1985, ISBN 978-0717113866)[7]
  • Saving the City, Tomar (1989, ISBN 978-1871793031)[7]
  • The Construction of Dublin, Gandon Editions (2000, ISBN 9780946846498)[7]
  • with James Nix, Chaos at the Crossroads, Gandon Books (2005, ISBN 978-0948037139)[2][7]
  • with Sheridan, Kathy (2008). The Builders. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-141-03780-6.[14]
  • Truly Frank (2018, ISBN 9780241977651)[15][16]
  • A Little History of the Future of Dublin (2021, ISBN 9781999896850)[17][7]

References

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  1. ↑ McDonald, Frank. "Frank McDonald: 'It took me years to accept who I am. I'm still working on it'". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Architecture Foundation: Biographies" (PDF). Wayback Machine. 28 September 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  3. 1 2 O'Toole, Jason (7 November 2018). "The Full Hot Press Interview with Frank McDonald". Hotpress. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Frank McDonald". Dublin Inquirer. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 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. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  6. ↑ O'Doherty, Caroline. "Frank McDonald, former environment editor of The Irish Times, has died". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 5 September 2026. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Spearman, Ottoline (5 September 2026). "Journalist and environmental campaigner Frank McDonald dies aged 76". The Journal. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 "Frank McDonald | Judging Co-Ordinator". architects-awards. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Frank McDonald obituary: campaigning journalist changed how we think about urban planning". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  10. ↑ Managh, Ray (5 May 2010). "Journalist hit hotel woman for 'smirking' – Herald.ie". Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "Judge lifts live music ban on Dublin hotel". The Irish Times. 6 May 2010. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  12. ↑ Kelly, Olivia (23 October 2006). "Honour for McDonald". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  13. ↑ RIAI (The Royal Institute of the Architects of. "News - Honorary Fellowships". www.riai.ie. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  14. ↑ "A review of 'The Builders' by Kathy Sheridan and Frank McDonald". Sunday Tribune. 12 October 2008. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  15. ↑ Harris, Anne (27 October 2018). "Frank McDonald's memoir takes on politicians, Catholicism and 'The Irish Times'". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  16. ↑ Gleeson, Colin (30 October 2018). "More than 100 people attend launch of 'Truly Frank' in Dublin". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Reck, Niall (6 February 2022). "Frank McDonald on the Future of Dublin". Little Museum of Dublin. Archived from the original on 3 September 2026.
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