Joe Steve àNeachtain (25 October 1942 â 19 January 2020) was an Irish writer, actor, playwright and broadcaster in the Irish language. He was well known for his portrayal of Peadar àConghaile in the long-running soap Ros na Rún. àNeachtain, a native Irish language speaker, was born in Cré Dhubh, An Spidéal, County Galway.
àNeachtain began writing in 1969 and published many short stories. He won Oireachtas prizes for his songs and also wrote for radio competitions. In addition to his work as a television actor, he appeared on stage at Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe and elsewhere. His novel Clochmhóin (Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 1998) was awarded the Cló Iar-Chonnachta literary award in 1998. He won the award a second time in 2001 for his novel, Lámh Láidir (Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 2001).
Idir Shúgradh agus DáirÃÂre (In Jest and in Earnest) is an award-nominated 2005 TG4 funded documentary film about àNeachtain, made by Mac Dara àCurraidhÃÂn.
As an active participant in the Gaeltacht Civil Rights Movement, àNeachtain helped lay the groundwork for the establishment of ÃÂdarás na Gaeltachta and Radió na Gaeltachta.