Rónán Mac Con Iomaire facts for kids

Rónán Mac Con Iomaire is an Irish writer and broadcaster. He works as a director for Údarás na Gaeltachta. This group helps develop Irish-speaking areas and promote the Irish language.

Early Life and Education

Rónán Mac Con Iomaire grew up in An Cheathrú Rua. This is a village in the Connemara Gaeltacht. He was the oldest of three children. His parents are Tomás Mac Con Iomaire and Mairéad. His siblings are Donncha Mac Con Iomaire and Síle Nic Con Iomaire.

He went to Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin for his education. Later, he studied journalism at Dublin City University (DCU). While at university, he was the editor of the college newspaper. He also wrote for other university publications.

A Career in Journalism

Rónán started his career as a news writer. He worked for the Evening Herald newspaper. He also wrote for the Irish Independent.

In 1996, a new Irish-language TV channel opened. This was Teilifís na Gaeilge (now TG4). Rónán became a video journalist for Nuacht TnaG, their news program.

Two years later, he worked as a freelance journalist. He was a Dublin Correspondent for the Irish language newspaper Foinse. He also edited an online publication called Cumasc. During this time, he wrote for magazines like Magill and The Irish Times.

Starting His Own Company

In 1999, Rónán helped start a company called meas media. He was the managing director. The company focused on the growing internet industry. It also worked with the Irish language sector. During this time, he also managed two pubs in Galway city.

Return to Television News

In 2002, Rónán went back to TV journalism. He became a local government reporter for Nuacht RTÉ and Nuacht TG4. He won several awards for his reporting. In 2004, he won an ESB National Media Award. This was for his investigation into planning issues. In 2006, he won the Oireachtas Journalist of the Year award. This was for revealing details about a political fundraising event.

While working for RTÉ, he also made documentaries.

• UEFA sa Ghaeltacht was a popular documentary. Rónán was the presenter and writer. It told the story of a UEFA Cup soccer match. The game was played on a Gaelic football pitch in Connemara.
• Tralaér explored life on a deep-sea fishing trawler. This boat was from the Aran Islands. Rónán also presented and wrote this documentary.
• Saighdiúr looked at Irish citizens in the British army. This was during World War II. Rónán used his grand-uncle's story to show this. His grand-uncle, Paddy Ridge, died in 1943. Rónán filmed, co-directed, wrote, and presented Saighdiúr.

In 2011, he became the deputy head of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. This is Ireland's national Irish-language radio station. In 2014, he became RTÉ's first group head for the Irish Language. Since 2019, he has been a director at Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Writing Books

Rónán Mac Con Iomaire is a successful author. His first book is Rocky Ros Muc. It was published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta. This book is about the Irish boxer Seán Mannion. Seán fought for a world boxing championship in 1984. The book tells how Mannion became a top boxer. He won the US light-middleweight title in 1983.

In 2018, a US publisher released Rónán's second book. It is called The Man Who Was Never Knocked Down. This book tells Seán Mannion's story in English. The book was well-received. It was first released in North America. Then it came out in Ireland and the UK.

Rocky Ros Muc was also made into a documentary film in 2017. Rónán was an associate producer and contributor. The film won awards at several festivals. These include the Boston Irish Film Festival and the Galway Film Fleadh. It also won an award at the Celtic Media Festival.

The Rocky Ros Muc documentary was the first Irish-language film to be considered for the Oscars. It was shown in cinemas in the US and Ireland. Many people gave it positive reviews.

In October 2013, Rónán won an award for his writing. He received the New Writer of the Year award. This was for his work on Rocky Ros Muc.

Rónán also contributed to a book called Scéal Scéil. This book gives an inside look at how modern Irish journalists work.

Traditional Irish Performance

Rónán also writes and performs traditional Irish pieces. These are called agallaimh beirte and lúibíní.

• Agallaimh beirte are usually funny conversations in verse between two people.
• Lúibíní are similar, but the verses are sung.

He has won several awards for these performances at Oireachtas na Gaeilge.

Sports and Community

Rónán Mac Con Iomaire enjoys sports. He is a keen triathlete and runner. A triathlon involves swimming, cycling, and running.

In 2010, he started TríSpórt. This is a triathlon club for the Connemara and Aran Islands area. The club has been very successful. It organizes two events each year:

• The Conamara 10k running race in Carna, County Galway.
• The Conamara Duathlon in An Cheathrú Rua, County Galway.

The club also helps with the Tour de Conamara cycling event in Clifden.

He also loves sailing. For many years, he helped organize Féile an Dóilín. This is a maritime festival for traditional Galway hooker boats.