Dr Donncha MacGabhann has lived all his life in rural Limerick (b. Knockainey 1957), where he and his wife Anita raised three children. For 35 years he was a public servant,
teacher (and Assistant Principal) in the local secondary school. Active in all aspects of school life, he pioneered the introduction of the Transition Year. At national level (NCCA, 1999), he
contributed to developing Leaving Cert. Applied modules and was a national Examiner.
Building-site summer jobs helped fund his studies at the National College of Physical Education (NCPE – Thomond College/UL). He then qualified as a teacher at Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD, 1982) and later completed an MA at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin (NCAD, 1998).
Widely exhibited in Ireland and abroad, his art received several major awards and is included in many collections (Arts Council, Limerick City Gallery, Crawford Gallery Cork, etc.).
Community and cultural organisations have been central to his life, including choirs, drama, arts, heritage, and historical societies, and sports clubs. He was among the leaders of a major
redevelopment of the local sports field (forming a cooperative society). He spent years coaching local primary school children and coached/managed various adult teams in hurling,
football, and rugby. Representing Limerick at Minor level, he was a Club Football All- Ireland winner with Thomond College (1978).
For almost 20 years, he has undertaken a major study on the Book of Kells (PhD Univ. of London, 2016). Like a cultural ambassador for Ireland, this research has taken him to some of the world’s great universities and libraries while also speaking at major international conferences. For a complete academic CV (incl. publications) see: gospelbookofkells.ie and sidestone.com/books/the-book-of-kells)