The CEMETERY TRAGEDY That SHOCKED An Entire Nation

Shane MacThomáis, who has died aged 46, was a leading Dublin historian, author and raconteur. Born into a working-class family, he was the son of broadcaster, author and republican Eamonn MacThomáis and wife Rosaleen. A popular character and well-known face around his beloved city, MacThomáis grew up in Wadelai, Glasnevin, and was schooled in Ballymun at Our Lady of Victories and Trinity Comprehensive.

An avid reader of everything from 2000AD comics to Ulysses , he left school at 15 and became an apprentice painter and decorator, before leaving for a bohemian life in London, where he lived in squats. There he met his French wife to be, Isabelle Le Marie, with whom he later had a daughter, Morgane, in 1991. MacThomáis enjoyed his time in London and was fascinated by the cosmopolitan city. Between painting jobs he would often read well into the early hours, soaking up much of the culture and history that he would later deliver with panache in his hometown. He returned to Dublin in May 1989 and began to develop a career in history, working occasionally with his father on historical tours and eventually taking up positions with the Allen Library, the Guinness Visitor Centre and the James Joyce Centre, where he befriended Senator David Norris.

French Foreign Legion
MacThomáis was a romantic soul and, following a split from his wife in the mid-1990s, decided to leave Ireland and join the French Foreign Legion as a remedy for his broken heart. He returned to Dublin after 18 months and began painting and decorating again, but continued to work on his history career. In 2001 he became a key member of the 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour and helped his good friend Lorcan Collins develop it into a hugely popular tourist experience. Despite his casual, friendly demeanour, MacThomáis sometimes suffered from a destructive inner sadness. He reached out for help and, while coming to terms with his condition, lent a strong shoulder of support to hundreds of others also struggling with life.

1 million Dubliners
   • One Million Dubliners, 2014 Glasnevin Ceme...  

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