Robert

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Robert McMillen has 25 years experience working in the Irish language media sector in its various forms on both a freelance and a full-time basis.

Print Media

While working as a librarian in the Central Library, Robert began writing occasional articles for the Irish News in 1984 before being given his own column. He also wrote for the Irish language newspaper Foinse since it was founded in 1996 until the end of its run in 2009.

Robert has been a contributor to the online Irish language magazine Beo.ie and is an occasional contributor to the journal of Music in Ireland. In 1999, he was appointed as a full-time journalist with the Irish News, writing in English as a features writer and also a weekly column for Irish learners, ‘The Bluffer’.

In 2006, he was appointed Irish language editor of the Irish News and is responsible for the paper’s Irish language content, An tEolas. This has proved to be very successful with positive feedback coming from Irish language activists, members of the aristocracy, politicians of differing persuasions and even members of the Orange Order!

Since his writing began in in 1984, Robert has interviewed academics, artists, actors and other shape-shifters including eminent journalist Robert Fisk, singer-come-frozen foodie Kerry Katona and Hollywood’s Angelina Jolie and Renée Zellweger.

Radio

Robert has worked extensively in Radio. He had his own bilingual radio show on BCR (now Citybeat) for four years in the early 1990s.

He was a regular contributor to Raidió na Gaeltachta (until they employed a dedicated northern correspondent), but still does occasional reporting for the station. He is also a contributor to Radio Ulster’s Irish language magazine programme, Blas.

Television

Robert has also worked on television. He appeared as a guest commentator on various current affairs programmes for both RTÉ and TG4. He worked as a correspondent for ‘Imeall’, an arts programme for TG4 and has appeared on Gaisce Gnó for the BBC.

Online Media

Robert McMillen has written for Irish language magazine Beo.ie since its beginning in 2001. He began blogging in March 2010 on his website RobertMcMillen.ie and is also working on various social network platforms.

Miscellaneous

Robert has taught Irish at the University of Ulster and at Cumann Chluain Árd in Belfast. He has edited a book of Irish idioms, Cora Cainte as Tír Chonaill, and last year did a course in Scots Gaelic on the Isle of Skye at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.