Paraic Breathnach

Biography: Páraic Breathnach (born 1956) is an Irish actor, performer, writer and storyteller. A fluent Irish speaker, Páraic grew up in Carna, County Galway. As a student in University of Galway, he was deeply involved with An Cumann Drámaíochta and Dramsoc, where he teamed up with Ollie Jennings in a series of cultural initiatives in and out of college. Breathnach worked with An Taibhdhearc and Druid Theatres and became the first manager of Galway Arts Centre, before co-founding Mácnas with Ollie Jennings. He has appeared in several major Irish films throughout the years, including Michael Collins and Breakfast on Pluto. A frequent contributor to TG4, he also played the character of Jacksie Walsh on RTÉ's Killinaskully. He has also been the managing director of the Galway Arts Center. In 2005, he was awarded an honorary degree from NUI Galway "for his immense contribution to cultural life in Galway and Ireland".