The former publisher and head of Gael Linn, Mr Donall O Mor ain, ail Government in 1972 over a radio report of an interview with an IRA leader, died yesterday in Dublin aged 77, after a short illness.
Mr O Morain was the chief architect of Gael Linn, the Irish language body founded in 1953. He also headed the RTE Authority which was dismissed by the Fianna Fail government in 1972 over a radio report of an interview with an IRA leader.
Mr O Morain was born in Dublin in 1923, but lived in Waterville, Co Kerry, until the age of 12, when his mother died. He then came to Dublin to be reared by his aunt. id Ni Loinsigh. He was educated at Colaiste Mhuire, the all-Irish school in Parnell Square, and UCD, graduating in economics and history.
He studied law at Kings Inns and was called to the Bar in 1946, but never practised as a barrister. Instead he went into publishing, becoming managing editor of a trade journal, later joining the Creation publishing group.
Mr O Morain succeeded Todd Andrews as chairman of RTE in 1970. In 1971, Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act was introduced by the minister for posts and telegraphs, Mr Gerry Collins, to block the broadcasting of the views of the Provisional IRA.
The O Morain-led RTE Authority was dismissed by the minister the following year over a radio report of an interview with Sean Mac Stiofain, the Provisional IRA leader. O Morain had no sympathy for the Provisionals, but he had an aversion to censorship in broadcasting.
The Coalition government elected in 1973 again appointed him as chairman of the authority, from which he resigned in 1976.
Irish was his passion and he strongly advocated the work of the European Bureau for Lesser-used Languages. He served on the governing body of Raidio na Gaeltachta for five years.
He was managing editor of the Irish-language weekly publication, Anois. The paper was produced each week from the Gael Linn offices in Merrion Square between 1984 and 1996. He remained at his desk in Merrion Square until he became ill two months ago.
He is survived by his wife, Maire, and children Feargal, Eoin, Iseult, Conall and Muireann.