John McDonagh

Who was John McDonagh?

John McDonagh was an Irish film director, playwright, and a participant in the 1916 Easter Rising. He was a brother of executed 1916 Rising leader Tomas MacDonagh, whose biography he wrote.

McDonagh was born in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary. He grew up in a household filled with music, poetry and learning. Both his parents were teachers who strongly emphasized the value of education.

He worked in theatre in England and the United States before writing the script for D.W. Griffith’s The Fugitive. He also made his name as an opera singer.

During the 1916 Easter Rising, he was stationed alongside his brother Thomas at the massive complex of Jacob's Biscuit Factory. Following the surrender, Thomas MacDonagh was court martialled, and executed by firing squad on 3 May 1916, aged thirty-eight. John last saw his brother in Richmond Barracks after the surrender. He was initially sentenced to life imprisonment and was sent to Knutsford Jail and thence to Frongoch. He was released in August 1916.

He became involved with the Film Company of Ireland. His first film as director was the comedy Paying the Rent, starring Arthur Sinclair and photographed by Brian Magowan.