Máire Ní Mhurchú
Grianghrafadóir: Máire Uí Mhaicín
Cead úsáide: Foras na Gaeilge
Dáta: 11 Samhain 2011
Suíomh: Bré, Co. Chill Mhantáin
Seánraí: Beathaisnéisí, Staraí
As Cill Chainnigh ó dhúchas, thosaigh Máire ag obair i gcartlann RTÉ i 1968 faoi Dhiarmuid Breathnach. Bheartaíodar tabhairt faoi bheathaisnéisí laochra na Gaeilge a scríobh a luaithe a fógraíodh go raibh Dictionary of Irish Biography á thionscnamh ag Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann. Seacht mbliana is fiche ina dhiaidh sin is ea a d'fhoilsigh an Clóchomhar imleabhar deiridh na sraithe: Beathaisnéis a Naoi: Forlíonadh agus Innéacsanna. Bhronn Ollscoil na hÉireann D. Litt. Celt. oinigh orthu i 2002 agus i 2008 bronnadh Gradam an Oireachtais orthu. Leanadar leis an obair nuair a thairg Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Cló Iar-chonnacht Beathaisnéis a chur ar líne.
From Co. Kilkenny orginally, in 1968 she went to work in the RTÉ Radio Archives under Diarmuid Breathnach. From 1982, with Diarmuid Breathnach as chief editor, she worked on Beathaisnéis. She retired from RTÉ in 1989 and was then able to work full-time on Beathaisnéis. The last of the nine volumes was published in 2007. She was given the Spirit of Columbus award by the Association of American Women in Ireland, 1994. In 1996 Diarmuid and Máire were awarded Gradam Bhord na Gaeilge. The National University of Ireland awarded them a D. Litt. Celt in 2002, and in 2008 they were presented with Gradam an Oireachtais.
