Sean O Cuirreain
Seán Ó Cuirreáin is a former journalist and broadcaster who has worked primarily in news and current affairs. He served as deputy head of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta prior to being appointed as Ireland’s first Language Commissioner (2004-2014). His book Éagóir [Injustice] (Cois Life, 2016) on the Maamtrasna Murders and the subsequent drama-documentary Murdair Mhám Trasna (TG4, 2018) contributed to the process which led to the posthumous presidential pardon for Maolra Seoighe/ Myles Joyce who was wrongly convicted and executed for those murders. A graduate of NUIG, Seán Ó Cuirreáin is originally from the Donegal Gaeltacht but has lived in the Gaeltacht in Galway for many years. He was appointed a member of the Council of State by President Michael D. Higgins in April 2019.