Frank McDonald, former environment editor of The Irish Times, has died

Renowned journalist, author, and environmental advocate Frank McDonald passed away at the age of 76 following a brief illness. Throughout his career, McDonald served as the Environment Editor for The Irish Times until 2015, where his work primarily centered on climate action, architecture, urban design, and the planning process.

His groundbreaking book, "The Destruction of Dublin," published in 1985, shed light on the demolition of historic Georgian areas of the capital city by developers and planners during the 1960s and 1970s. Other notable publications by McDonald include "Saving the City," "The Construction of Dublin," "Chaos at the Crossroads" (co-authored with James Nix), "The Builders" (co-authored with Kathy Sheridan), and "A Little History of the Future of Dublin."

McDonald's journalism journey commenced at The Irish Press before he joined The Irish Times in 1979. He was eventually appointed Environment Correspondent in 1986. Even in retirement, McDonald remained an active environmental campaigner, vocal about the repercussions of Airbnb on towns and cities. In his 2018 memoir, "Truly Frank," he candidly discussed his experiences as a gay man growing up in Dublin during the 1960s.

Frank McDonald is survived by his spouse, Eamon Slater, whom he married in 2016.