'Quiet hero' of Irish language movement dies

Riobard Mac Góráin, a leading member of the Irish language movement and co-founder of Gael Linn, has died.

He was the first managing director of Gael Linn and was among those who founded the organisation at a meeting in Cork's Imperial Hotel in 1953 in order to promote Irish language and culture.

Mr Tomás MacRuairí, Úachtarán of Comhdail Naisiúnta na Gailegue and a former President of Conradh na Gaeilge, said Mr Mac Góráin was one of the "quiet, efficient heroes" of the Irish language movement and he was "absolutely saddened" to hear of his passing.

Mr Mac Góráin died at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin. His funeral will take place on Monday next to Shanganagh cemetery after requiem mass at St Patrick's, Monkstown.

He is survived by his wife Máirin, children Rónán, Séamus, Fiachra and Caitríona; brother Kevin, who is chairman of Waterford Crystal and of Fitzwilton Ltd, and sisters Una Duggan and Anne Poppinga. A third sister, Lillian Tubridy, predeceased him.

Mr Mac Góráin studied liberal arts in University College, Cork and received an honorary doctorate degree from NCEA in 1993.

Gael Linn said Mr Mac Góráin "gave a lifetime of service to the organisation and to the Irish language".

It noted he had organised the Gael Linn pools which provided funding for a range of innovative schemes and pioneered the recording of Irish music on the Gael Linn label, including his college friend Sean O Riada and Clannad, which celebrates its golden jubilee this year

In the 1950s and 60s, he oversaw the development of entertainment in Irish through Amharclann an Damer, Cabaret Gael Linn, the Amharc Éireann newsreel and the historical films Mise Éire and Saoirse.

Gael Linn, the CEO of Antoine Ó Coileáin said: "In a host of innovative ways, Riobard Mac Góráin was instrumental in bringing the Irish language to prominence in the cultural life of Ireland in the 1950s and 60s.

"Through a broad range of educational and cultural programmes, he was responsible for introducing Irish into the lives of a great many people."

Mr Mac Góráin was a former editor of the literary magazine Comhar, former Uachtarán of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, and a former member of Bord na Gaeilge and of the Steering Group for Irish in Local Government.