Early and Personal Life
Born in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, he is married to Sheila Baldrey and has five children (2 daughters and 3 sons). His father Joe Mooney was a member of the Seanad (1961–65) and Leitrim County Council (1943–88) while his mother Eva Mooney also served as a member of Leitrim County Council (1988–91). Paschal Mooney is the third generation of his family to contribute to public service locally and nationally as his grandfather Andrew Mooney served as a member of Leitrim County Council from 1920–1943.
Mooney has also enjoyed a broadcasting career with RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster. A presenter of a variety of Irish traditional and country music and Sports programmes, he has also devised, scripted and presented numerous music documentaries on Irish and American country music stars. In September 2007, he was the recipient of the UK based Irish Post Newspaper Readers Award for 'Services to the Irish Community in Britain' and as a Senator was a leading campaigner for the undocumented Irish in the USA as well as being the 'Voice of the Irish Diaspora' in Seanad Éireann. He presented music programmes on Ocean FM and Dublin's Country Mix 106.8 and completed a series for RTÉ Radio 1 titled 'Irish Music Legends' which was transmitted in August 2008.
He was also in the forefront of the 'Shot at Dawn' campaign led in the British House of Commons by Andrew MacKinlay MP and in the House of Lords by Alf Dubs seeking a pardon for over 300 soldiers of World War I (including 26 Irish servicemen) shot in questionable circumstances following Field courts-martial.
Read more about this topic: Paschal Mooney
Famous quotes containing the words early, personal and/or life:
“In the true sense one’s native land, with its background of tradition, early impressions, reminiscences and other things dear to one, is not enough to make sensitive human beings feel at home.”
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940)
“The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when acquired, a right to protection, as a social right.”
—James Madison (1751–1836)
“The sweetest joys of life grow in the very jaws of its perils.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)