RIP: 'My heart is with Longford' - sadness at death of writer & broadcaster Manchán Magan

The death has been announced of writer, broadcaster and documentary maker Manchán Magan, aged 55. 

Mr Magan, who has strong family links to Killashee in County Longford, contested the 2016 General Election as a Green Party candidate in the Longford Westmeath constituency.

He received 1,104 first preference votes and said at the time, “My heart is with Longford; my people are from Longford – over 200 years. What I want is strong representation for Longford. When international companies come, Longford is just outside Dublin, so we are this expansion zone for Dublin. What we need is international representation that will look confident and look proper."

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He added, “I can't say I enjoyed the campaign. It's a struggle – it's a tough a tough thing to do – but it's so enlightening, so rewarding.”

Born in 1970, and raised in Donnybrook, Mr Magan moved to Westmeath in 1997, after purchasing a plot of land in Collinstown.

He was a passionate advocate for the Irish language and explored it in a variety of ways including books and documentaries.

Last December Mr Magan appeared at Longford's Backstage Theatre with his 'Rewilding the Mind' talk and show in which he explored the rising connection people are having with the spirit and the lore of the land of Ireland.

In an interview with Brendan O'Connor on RTÉ Radio 1 on September 13, Mr Magan confirmed he had terminal prostate cancer, that had spread to multiple organs.

Sympathy is extended to Mr Magan's family, wife Aisling, his mother Cróine and his three siblings.

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Minister for Rural and Community and Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has expressed his deepest sympathy to the family and friends of broadcaster and writer Manchán Magan who has passed away at the age of 55.

Minister Calleary said, “I am very saddened to hear of Manchán’s death this morning at such a young age.  Manchán was a gifted broadcaster, writer, and passionate advocate of the Irish language.

“Manchán leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in how he championed the Irish language. His dedicated work on television, his unmistakable voice on radio, and his writing didn’t just promote Irish, it reignited a grá for it in people. This legacy will live on.

“I want to join with others in offering my deepest condolences to his wife Aisling, his family, his friends and his former colleagues in TG4, RTE and the wider arts and culture community across Ireland. May he rest in Peace.”

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