Frank McDonald, former environment editor of The Irish Times, dies at 76

Frank McDonald, the journalist who became The Irish Times’ first environment correspondent, has died at 76 after a short illness. He died overnight at Blackrock Clinic in Dublin.

McDonald joined The Irish Times in 1979 after working at The Irish Press. He became the newspaper’s first environment correspondent in 1986, following ground-breaking investigations into planning failures and dereliction in Dublin. His reporting on planning corruption was pioneering in Irish journalism, while his work also took him abroad to cover international climate negotiations.

He became environment editor in 2000 and maintained a long-standing interest in Dublin’s built environment. His work examined the city’s struggle to balance housing and transport demands with architectural conservation and heritage protection. He later focused on issues including the proposed MetroLink station at St Stephen’s Green, expressing concern about the park’s integrity and its status as a national monument.

McDonald wrote or co-wrote eight books and contributed to academic publications on urban planning, architecture, planning corruption, and Dublin’s history and possible futures. His 2018 memoir, Truly Frank, chronicled his life and work, including his experience of being gay in a country that discriminated against people because of their sexuality for much of his life.

He married his partner of 40 years, Eamon Slater, in 2016. McDonald retired in 2015 but continued writing for The Irish Times and other publications, appeared regularly on radio discussions, and remained active in planning debates. He is survived by Slater, two brothers, a sister and a large circle of friends.