About Phil

Phil Mac Giolla Bhain has been using his skills as a journalist and writer to campaign for social justice for over twenty years. The rights of people with mental health problems, fathers right to be in the life of his child amongst other issues. He has established himself as a freelance journalist capable of consistently producing high quality articles.

THE IRISH POST

In the early 1990s for The Irish Post in the UK. This period of Phil's work saw him focus on the social exclusion of the Irish community in Britain. Born and reared in Glasgow in an Irish household Phil was an important voice during the days of the social exclusion of the Irish community in Scotland.

For the last ten years Phil has been based in the Gaeltacht village of Gortahork in County Donegal. Since returning home to Ireland in 1996 Phil has been a regular contributor to local and national publications.

Keeping an eye on Russia!

In a series of articles spanning several years Phil penned a sometimes serious, sometimes satirical weekly column for the famous Tirconaill Tribune under the pen name "Liam Murphy". From the man in the Donegal County Council planning office to the man in the Oval Office they all got it! The readership of this unique local newspaper were regaled, informed and entertained in more or less equal measure for four years. Phil decided on "Liam Murphy" as a tribute to his maternal grandfather who reared him as a child.

Magill
In late 2001 John Waters, Consultant editor at Magill commissioned Phil to write a series of articles for the magazine. The first was in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in the USA. The second article was in November 2001 when Phil's piece was the lead article in that edition on the subject of male suicide in rural Ireland. Articles followed included IRA decommissioning, deficits in the training of Social workers and the emotional pornography of 'reality shows'.

Daily Ireland
Recently Phil has been a regular contributor to the new title in the Irish daily newspaper market. His contributions have ranged from the legacy of 1916 to the tune chosen by the BBC to mark the 2006 World Cup!

Flight of the Earls
Prompted by friends and colleagues to 'do something extra' with the Magill article "Flight Of The Earls". Phil dramatised the piece and wrote a full-length play by the same title. The play was supported by Donegal County Council and was performed in the Balor Theatre in November 2004. The play is in further development. It is hoped to stage the play in Community venues across the country in 2007.

Broadcasting
Phil has been a guest on RTE's "The Big Bite" hosted by David McWilliams.

Rebellion
Phil is currently involved in an art house project writing and acting in a play about the history of the Republican struggle in Ireland. The film, Directed by young Irish director Chris Slevin will be submitted to festivals in 2007 at Ireland and abroad. Phil has written the script for the film and played the part of James Connolly during the 1916 GPO scenes, which were filmed in Vienna in 2006.