15 Facts About Des MacHale

Desmond MacHale was born on 28 January 1946 and is an Irish mathematician who is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at University College Cork.

Des MacHale is an author and speaker on several subjects, including George Boole, lateral thinking puzzles, and humour.

Des MacHale has published over 80 books, some of which have been translated into languages including Danish, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, German, Korean, and Japanese.

Des MacHale earned his BSc and MSc in mathematical science at University College Galway in 1967 and 1968, and completed his PhD at the University of Keele in 1972 under Hans Liebeck.

In 1985 MacHale published George Boole: His Life and Work, the first book length biography of Boole.

Des MacHale is considered the world's leading expert on Boole and in 2018 published another book New Light on George Boole, co-authored with Yvonne Cohen.

Des MacHale has authored books on other subjects, including brainteasers and he has written more than 30 books of jokes and discussions of humour.

Des MacHale's Comic Sections: The Book of Mathematical Jokes, Humour, Wit and Wisdom is a book which combines two of his interests.

Des MacHale has written over a dozen books of lateral thinking problems with author Paul Sloane; and many of these problems are featured on the Futility Closet website.

Des MacHale has written several books about the 1952 American film, The Quiet Man.

Des MacHale has spoken at schools, on radio, and television on the subjects of mathematics, humour, and puzzles.

Des MacHale is a longtime opponent of smoking, and for decades has played a role within the Irish Association of Non-Smokers.

Des MacHale appeared on RTE's The Late Late Show as early as the 1980s in an attempt to educate the public about the dangers of smoking.

Des MacHale's son is the actor Dominic MacHale, known for The Young Offenders.

From 1984 to 2007, Des MacHale ran the Superbrain Competition at University College Cork, including setting the questions and grading the papers.