Michael MacDonagh

Michael MacDonagh (26 August 1860 – 27 February 1946) was an Irish author and journalist. From 1894 until 1933 he wrote for The Times as a member of their parliamentary and reporting staff.

Early life and career

He was born in Limerick and educated at the Christian Brothers' School. He began writing for the Freeman's Journal when he was 21, and was their special correspondent for eight years. In 1887 he was appointed as sketch writer in the House of Commons.

He joined The Times in 1894 and reported on major events such as Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and the Boer War. He also wrote campaign articles for the paper during general elections.

As well as his work for The Times, MacDonagh contributed articles to magazines on his favourite subjects of Irish history and literature, and parliamentary procedures and traditions. He authored biographies of James Warren Doyle, Daniel O'Connell and William O'Brien, and was a supporter of the Irish Home Rule movement. Before the First World War the leader of the Irish Nationalist Party, John Redmond, had promised MacDonagh the office of Clerk of the Irish House of Commons but subsequent events prevented his appointment. His ideal was a united Ireland, loyal to the crown and inside the Commonwealth, and he opposed the partition of Ireland between north and south.

MacDonagh was one of the first members of the Institute of Journalists and he was a founder of the Irish Literary Society, for which he later served as vice-president. In 1924 he was elected chairman of the Press Gallery. He also wrote entries for the Dictionary of National Biography.