Michael Viney | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1933-02-06)6 February 1933 Brighton, England |
| Died | 30 May 2023(2023-05-30) (aged 90) |
| Occupation |
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| Subjects | Nature |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Michael VineyMRIA (6 February 1933 – 30 May 2023) was a British-born Irish artist, author, broadcaster and journalist. Best known for his writings on nature, he contributed toThe Irish Times from 1962.
Michael Viney was born inBrighton, England on 6 February 1933, to parents who operated a cafe.[1] Although interested in art as a career, he began work with theBrighton and Hove Herald at the age of 16, before stints at theEvening Argus,The Star, andToday.[1] In 1962, he took a career break and moved toTully Cross inConnemara, and eventually decided to stay in Ireland, performing freelance assignments forThe Irish Times, later becoming a staff journalist.[1]
In the 1960s Viney wrote forThe Irish Times about social issues such as the fate of people in institutional care.[2] His articles were later incorporated into theRyan Report oninstitutional abuse of children in Ireland.[3]
Viney began working at RTÉ Television as a presenter in programmes aimed at social and consumer affairs and with items on household and family matters. He took training there as a TV director and became a production editor in 1976.
Viney left Dublin in 1977 with his wife, Ethna, and daughter for a simpler life in County Mayo, at their holiday home on one acre at Thallabawn,Murrisk, near the coast south ofLouisburgh.[3][4]
Viney published "Another Life", a weekly column inThe Irish Times, from 1977.[3][4] Over the years the focus of the column shifted from sustainability to natural history. His last column was published in February 2023.[1]
Viney married Ethna McManus in 1965, and they had a daughter.[1] He was an atheist.[1]
Viney died on 30 May 2023, at the age of 90.[1]
In 1966, Viney won aJacob's Award for hisRTÉ Televisiondocumentary,Too Many Children.[5]
Viney was a member ofAosdána, Ireland's academy or affiliation of distinguished creative artists.[6] He was elected to theRoyal Irish Academy in May 2017.[7]
Viney's books include:
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| National | |
| Other | |
