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  Henry Lyons, Former Lecturer, Chemistry, Kevin Street

  Henry Lyons

  Henry Lyons is a native of Kerry, where he gained his early education at Tarbert Comprehensive School. He was awarded a scholarship to study for a Chemistry degree in UCD, from where he graduated in 1967. He taught parttime at Kevin Street and at Ringsend for some time, while also doing full-time research for his Master’s degree. In 1972 he was appointed full-time lecturer at Kevin Street. He discusses the major changes which occurred in Kevin Street during the 1970s, which included the setting up of the National Council for Educational Awards. In 1979 he drew up several chemistry courses for a proposed third level college, which did not come about, much to his disappointment. He moved to Tralee Regional Technical College in 1979, where he spent the next twenty-six years until his retirement in 2005.

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  Frank McMahon, Former Head of Academic Affairs, Dublin Institute of Technology

  Frank McMahon

  Frank McMahon retired from his position in DIT in 2010 having spent 40 years in academic life. He was born in Dublin, and attended the O’Connell Schools CBS, where he was awarded a scholarship to UCD from where he graduated with a BCom and an MBA. He then attended Sheffield University where he completed his Doctorate in Education. It is notable that as a student in UCD he captained the Irish Junior Chess team. His education completed, he spent five years working in the hotel industry before entering academic life in 1970. His initial appointment was at the Shannon College of Hotel Management, while also working at NUIG one day each week on a new MBA programme at the time. He was appointed Deputy Principal at Cathal Brugha Street in 1976, and he discusses the growth and development of the College in those days of advancement in education in Ireland. He also discusses his first challenge in getting degree recognition for Higher Level Diploma in the Hospitality Management Programme. Frank McMahon served as an international external examiner at five universities. In 2000 he was appointed Director of Academic and he explains his responsibilities in that challenging position. He says that his is most proud of setting up a unit to provide teaching methods assessments.

  In the second section of the recording Frank McMahon recalls his tenure as Deputy Principal at Cathal Brugha Street when in 1993 the DIT separated from the Dublin City VEC under its own legislation. He recalls the awarding of degrees in DIT from 1996 and discusses research in DIT, the major changes in education during his academic career, the effects of the national economy on DIT, and his views on the move to Grangegorman. He also recalls the various committees, boards and working parties in which he was involved.

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  Eugene McNamee, Former Aer Lingus Operations and Student, Kevin Street

  Eugene McNamee

  Eugene McNamee comes originally from Mayo, and he was educated in Terenure College Dublin, before joining Aer Lingus in 1958, working in the passenger handling area. In 1961 he registered as a student in Kevin Street in the Department of Air Navigation where his lecturer was Brendan Flanagan. He recalls his year of study there in great detail, and his later work as Route Informations Officer in the Flight Operations Department with Aer Lingus. He also became an instructor in Celbridge from 1976 – 1979, where he taught Grainne Cronin who became the first female pilot employed by Aer Lingus. He retired in 2002 from Aer Lingus, having completed 40 years of service with the national airline.

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  John Monaghan, Professor Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

  John Monaghan

  John Monaghan grew up in Drimnagh in Dublin, and he initially discusses his early education. At the age of fourteen he began work as a mechanic at a local garage where his interest in mechanics was first engendered. He attended Bolton Street College to study part-time as an apprentice mechanic, and in 1967 he was appointed part-time lecturer in the Engineering Science Department. This led to full-time employment, and he discusses the changes to the syllabus during his teaching career there. In 1976 he registered for a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering in TCD and on graduation he began work on a Ph.D. In 1980, he was appointed as full-time lecturer at TCD and he explains his reasons for his decision to work there rather than at Bolton Street. He discusses his work at TCD, the workplace, and his academic colleagues and he provides his views on the reasons why DIT does not have university status. He also discusses his huge involvement with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, for which he currently acts as Vice President.

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  Michael Mulvey, Director of Academic Affairs and Registrar, DIT

  Michael Mulvey

  Michael Mulvey was born in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, and graduated from the Shannon Hotel College. He managed many hotels in his early days, and was guest lecturer at Cathal Brugha Street. He was appointed full-time lecturer some time later, and also studied for his Master’s degree in Political Science and Economics at night at Trinity College, where he also later worked on his PhD. He lectured in Cathal Brugha Street for five years in the College of Catering, and later became Head of School. He discusses the changes and transitions which came about there over the years, his appointment in 1996 as Director of the Faculty of Tourism and Food, tourism and its development and greater professionalism in the sector. To keep abreast of this he developed new programmes at Master’s and PhD levels. He also provides his views on the positive legacy he inherited from his predecessors. He discusses the research area and international networking to bring in external students.

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  Brian Norton, President, Dublin Institute of Technology

  Brian Norton

  This recording was compiled in the President’s Office in Aungier Street, where Brian Norton initially discusses his background and his early education in the UK. His first academic post was at Cranfield University in London where he taught Engineering and Management for 13 years. In 1989 he was appointed to the Chair of the Engineering Department at Ulster University where he also served for 13 years. His specialisation was in solar energy and he discusses this in detail, he talks about research and teaching and the links and benefits in the combination of both. While at Ulster University he witnessed challenging and tragic events during the troubles, which he describes. He discusses the differences in the evolution of education between the Irish and British technology systems. In 2003 Brian Norton was appointed President of DIT, and he explains the depth of experience in research and management he brought to his new post, and he details the work he has undertaken in this challenging position.

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  Noel O'Connor, Head of Campus Planning and Director of Student Services, DIT

  Noel O'Connor

  This recording was compiled on the 65 acre site at Grangegorman, where the new DIT campus is to be constructed. Noel O’Connor was born is Roscommon, and grew up in Dublin. In 1978 he began his studies in Hotel Management at Cathal Brugha Street, and later was awarded his HDip from Trinity College. He became a parttime teacher at Cathal Brugha Street in 1982. In 1986 he was appointed full-time teacher there and in 1990 became Head of School. He discusses his twenty years at Cathal Brugha Street, the changes which took place and the demographics. In 2000, DIT initiated a group to look into the possibility of constructing a new campus for DIT, and he discusses the lead into this and his brief. One year later a proposal was agreed upon. He recalls the reaction to this proposal, and the real focus on planning the new campus in 2007.

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  Brid O'Doherty, Former Teacher, Saint Louis Convent, Rathmines

  Brid O'Doherty

  Brid O’Doherty discusses her background initially and recalls her early days as a teaching sister at St. Louis Convent school Rathmines in the 1940s. The school was private and regarded as being quite exclusive. She taught four languages, French, Italian, Irish and English, and also taught the Arts and Religion, in what she describes as a very cloistered atmosphere. She discusses her views on the vocational schools system, as she perceived it in those days when the School of Commerce Rathmines fronted St. Louis Convent school. In the early 1900s the convent had provided part of the site for the vocational school there.

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  Moira O'Donovan de Lacy, Former Administrator, VEC (Vocational Education Committee)

  Moira O'Donovan de Lacy

  Times: 54:53 Moira O’Donovan grew up in Donnybrook, Dublin, and aged 17 she gained employment in secretarial work as a junior clerk in Kevin Street, where she remained for two years. She recalls her days there, and the positive changes brought about by the creation of a new building. In 1963 the International Trades Competitions were held in Dublin, and in that year she was appointed secretary to Jack Barry of the City of Dublin VEC. The following year, she returned to Kevin Street, just as her future husband, Hugh de Lacy, was appointed Principal. She discusses his strong views on education, starting new courses including the Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications courses. She recalls those times as being very exciting and innovative. Her career advanced as she was appointed Registrar, and in 1980 she became Principal Officer with the City of Dublin VEC. She recalls the many challenges in this position. She was the first female to be appointed to the post. Hugh de Lacy retired in 1982 and she retired in 1997, following which the couple married.

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  Vincent O'Hora, Former Admissions Officer, Dublin Institute of Technology

  Vincent O'Hora

  County Mayo is the birthplace of Vincent O’Hora. In 1958 his family moved to Dublin, where he attended school with the Christian Brothers at O’Connell’s Schools. He began his studies for a BA in UCD in 1965, but decided instead to take up a post as temporary assistant primary teacher. After a short time, he took employment in London with the International Telegraph, and in 1971 he returned to Dublin, and worked for six years as a clerical officer with City of Dublin VEC at Bolton Street. In 1978 he was transferred to the Payroll section in Head Office in Ballsbridge, and two years later he was promoted to Management Services. He discusses the various turning points and decisions arrived at in the City of Dublin VEC, and the partnership agreement established with Trinity College Dublin. In 1984 he was appointed Admissions Officer, a post he held until his retirement in 2008. He speaks about various challenges he encountered during his career.

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  Jack O'Keefe, Head of Department of Architecture and Town Planning, Bolton Street

  Jack O'Keefe

  Jack talks about his days growing up in Donnybrook and Dundrum and his involvement with the LDF during the Emergency period. In 1945, after his schooling, he entered UCD to do a course in Architecture, and he discusses his experiences over those seven years, including his meetings with Patrick Kavanagh. He also discusses setting up a business after graduating, with another graduate from UCD. In 1953, he was appointed a part-time lecturer in Architecture at Bolton Street, and four years later took up a full-time lecturing post there. In the second part of this recording Jack O’Keeffe discusses the international trade competition (Bolton Street was the centre for this) and he talks about that time in great detail. He wanted full recognition for architectural courses, and he talks about how they achieved this. He gives his opinion on why he did not want university status for the DIT and explains his reasons. He discusses the time when town planning courses were first organised, and talks about the time when Donogh O’Malley was Minister for Education, and his involvement with writing his scripts. Jack O’Keeffe retired in 1988 after spending 25 years as Head of the Department of Architecture in Bolton Street. This recording continues into part 3, where Jack McKenna expands on many of these issues

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  Colm O'Rourke, Former Lecturer, Biomedical Science, Kevin Streeet

  Colm O'Rourke

  Colm O’Rourke is a Dublin man, and in this recording he initially discusses his career in the Eastern Health Board where he worked as a technician with the Blood Transfusion Service, beginning in 1966. IN 1973, he worked for a short period as a salesman with the Johnson and Johnson Group, before his appointment to a senior post at the Meath Hospital, and later at the Mater Hospital at the time when open heart surgery was being developed there. During this period he was also employed as a part-time lecturer in haematology at Kevin Street, where he later took up a post full-time. He gives his views on the facilities in Kevin Street and the major underfunding which applied. Though conditions were challenging, relations between the staff was always excellent. Hi discusses his views on the bureaucratic structure which exists in hospitals to this day, and he stresses the importance of keeping abreast of developments in biomedical science and in the blood transfusion area, at a time of great change.

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  Mary O'Rourke, Former Minister for Education

  Mary O'Rourke

  Mary O’Rourke describes her background and her schooling in Athlone. She graduated with a BA from UCD and then worked for some time in the family business in Athlone. She then returned to study, and obtained her HDip from NUI Maynooth, where she was part of the first student class in the college under NUI status. She taught in the Convent of Mercy Athlone for a short time, until her introduction to her political career. In 1987, Taoiseach Charles Haughey appointed her Minister for Education, a post in which she remained for five years. There was much turbulence in the job at that time, mainly due to economic cutbacks. She recalls her private secretary David Gordon whose support and guidance were invaluable to her. She discusses the proposals she brought to Cabinet while Minister for Education, and she explains the detail of the Universities Act, the Home School Liaison Link, the Teachers Act and the National Curriculum and Assessment Board.

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  Paul O'Sullivan, Director College of Business, Aungier Street

  Paul O'Sullivan

  Paul O’Sullivan grew up and was educated in South Kerry. He joined the staff at the Dublin Institute of Technology in 1977 having previously worked with City of Dublin VEC. He also worked ass a research demonstrator at UCD and at a research unit at Trinity College Dublin. He lectured in the College of Marketing and Design at DIT. In 1995 he was appointed the first Director of the Business Faculty, and he provides his views on the changes in the structure in the Institute. He discusses the fact that the City of Dublin VEC was a major education force while explaining its dynamic and radical activities. He discusses the threat in the late 1960s that Trinity College would be amalgamated with UCD and his belief that this was a significant reason why the relationship between DIT and Trinity came about. He also discusses his tenure in the Department of Marketing and Design and the important developments which took place and the Academic Council and his opinion that this was the first manifestation of DIT as an entity. In this recording Paul O’Sullivan paints a most informative picture of the structure and development of DIT.

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  John Rothery, Former Assistant Head, Architecture, Bolton Street

  John Rothery

  John Rothery is a Dublin man, who grew up in Woodside on the Dublin Mountains. He attended Synge Street CBS and was awarded a scholarship to UCD in 1946 where he studied architecture. He worked in Michael Scott’s architectural practice for five years, and then spent some time in South Africa before returning to work in Dublin for five years with the OPW. In 1971 he was appointed lecturer at Bolton Street, having worked in private practice for the previous seven years, while teaching part time at Bolton Street. He discusses his tenure as full-time lecturer for twenty two years, which included his involvement in the setting up of an exchange programme with foreign students. He also discusses the projects which were put in place over his recent years in Bolton Street. He retired in the early 1990s and now is working on his writings and his art.

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  Tommy Scott, Former Assistant Head of the School of Biological Sciences, Kevin Street

  Tommy Scott

  Tommy Scott

  Tommy Scott grew up in central Dublin. In this recording he details his early education and his love of science. In 1960 he was employed by the Rotunda Hospital as a laboratory technician, and three years later he moved to a technician’s post in the Royal College of Surgeons. He attended classes in Biochemical Sciences at the Children’s Hospital in Crumlin and qualified in Microbiology. Two years later he was appointed senior technician in the College of Surgeons. In 1967 he became a senior technologist in the Federated Voluntary Hospitals, working in the Adelaide and Mercy Hospitals, and at this time he began his tenure as a part-time lecturer in microbiology in Kevin Street. He discusses the issues of importance in Kevin Street, the transition to DIT and the great courses and the great changes which occurred during the 1980s. In 1997, he was appointed Assistant Head of School, where he remained until his retirement.

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  David Spring, Project Manager, Strategic Management and Change, Dublin Institute of Technology

  David Spring

  David Spring was born in Dublin and attended CBS Synge Street prior to taking ;up an administration point with City of Dublin VEC in Kevin Street. At this time he attended night classes in Accountancy, Statistics and Personnel Management. He later worked at Head Office in Ballsbridge, again in an administrative post and he remained there for four years. He discusses the budget and it control and also the great differences between the workplaces at Kevin Street and Ballsbridge. In 1980 he moved to Bolton Street, as a Senior Clerk where he worked in the Examination section for a year and a half, and was then promoted to Secretary/Registrar in Kevin Street. He discusses his dealings with the Students Union in those years. When a position of Personnel Officer became vacant in Ballsbridge he was appointed to this job in 1990. He discusses the transition from VEC to DIT in detail and how it was handled. Heritage House in Stephen’s Green and then Fitzwilliam Square were his locations from 1993-2002, when he moved to Headquarters in Rathmines. During the past year he was appointed Project Manager, Strategic Management and Change.

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  Salters Stirling, Former Academic Secretary, Trinity College Dublin

  Salter Stirling

  Salters Stirling was born in Belfast, and gained his early education locally. He graduated from Trinity College in 1960 with a degree in History and Political Science. He gives a brief account of his family’s connection with the college. He returned to Belfast on graduation, taking up a post as Irish Secretary of the Students Christian Movement at Queen’s University. He later became warden at Gurteen Agricultural College, remaining there until 1975, when he returned to Trinity College as a member of staff. His instructions from the Provost were that he concentrate exclusively on producing a formula by which Trinity could grant degrees to students at Kevin Street and Bolton Street. That formula was to be in place by 11th July of that year. He discusses the breaking down of barriers at that time, and the reasons why Trinity opted for this arrangement. He also discusses the timescale involved, and the reasons for the success of the arrangement. In the second part of this recording, Salter Stirling talks about the intensity of the work involved in bringing about the new system of awarding degrees to Bolton Street and Kevin Street in earlier days. He also discusses the various posts he held at Trinity College, and the other great challenges which were placed before him when he was asked by the Provost to instigate an arrangement between Trinity College and the Church of Ireland Teacher Training Colleges.

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  Kevin Sullivan, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Technology, Kevin Street

  Kevin Sullivan

  Kevin Sullivan was born in Finglas in Dublin and following his early education he gained employment as a diesel fitter mechanic with CIE. He also attended evening classes in Bolton Street for four years from 1962. He was awarded a scholarship in 1966 to continue his studies, graduating four years later in mechanical engineering. From 1970 – 1972 he worked as part-time lecturer in Bolton Street, while working on his Master’s degree in Trinity College. In 1972 he was appointed lecturer in the Ulster Polytechnic college, and in 1974 he moved to Dundalk RTC, and later to Kevin Street, where he is now based. He discusses writing the syllabus for new programmes and the challenges of his job in the early days. He was a staff-elected member of the Academic Council from 1983 – 1993, becoming Chairman in 1989. While there he lobbied very strongly for improvements in the educationsl facilities within the City of Dublin VEC. He also discusses his membership in a trade union, and his commitment to the work of the trade unions.

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  Dick Sweeney, Former Officer, Higher Education Authority

  Dick Sweeney

  Times: 70:55 Dick Sweeney is a native of Co. Laois where he received his early education. He graduated as an engineer and was appointed to the Technical Instruction branch in the Department of Education. He was requested by the Minister for Education, Paddy Hillery, to serve as an advisor, and he explains that the period from 1960 – 1967 was a very exciting time in education. He discusses the Commission on Higher Education, Technician Education, the Steering Committee on the Development of the RTCs, the investment in education at the time, and the establishment of the HEA (where he worked for ten years). In the late 1960s he was appointed as primary school inspector and was also chair of the Engineering Architecture Construction group which formulated programmes of construction in the RTCs.

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  Kieran Taaffe, Former Head of the Physics Department and Former Vice Principal, Kevin Street

  Kieran Taaffe

  Kieran Taaffe is a native of Co. Louth. He discusses his education with the Christian Brothers in Dundalk, and later at UCG from where he graduated with a degree in physics. He remained at the college where he worked as a junior lecturer while studying for his Master’s degree. He then emigrated to Sweden to work with Volvo and returned to Kevin Street as Assistant Head of Physics in 1968. He was later appointed as Head of Physics and remained in this post until 1982. He was also Chairman of the Academic Council for 1979-1981. In the recording Kieran Taaffe discusses the day and night classes in the Physics Department, dealing with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland in attempting to get employment for students. His involvement with Trinity began in 1970, when the National Council for Academic Awards was established. He recalls the challenging times experienced over the decades as funding was extremely limited, and the less than happy period in DIT from 1994-2000. He discusses his period as Vice Principal and Dean of Studies and International Affairs, and his enjoyment of the cut and thrust of academic debate.

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  Don Thornhill, Former Secretary General, Department of Education

  Don Thornhill

  Don Thornhill was born in Cork, and on completion of his early schooling, he studied at UCD and graduated with a BSc in Chemistry and Maths. He later worked on his PhD at the college. He worked in many government departments during his career, before being appointed Secretary General in the Department of Education. He directed the White Paper, the output from which was the Universities Bill, and he discusses the reaction to it. This was followed by the Education Act. In 1998 he moved to the HEA as Executive Chairman, where he worked closely with John Hayden. He discusses the funding which became available for research and how it was distributed, and he provides his views on university status for DIT, and his work in this area. Other challenges during his tenure are discussed, such as the uncomfortable relations between the DIT and HEA leadership following the formation of DIT.

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  Eamon Tuffy, Former Education Officer,CDVEC (City of Dublin Vocational Educational Committee)

  Eamon Tuffy

  Eamon Tuffy was born in Ballina, Co. Mayo.He attended UCD and graduated with a degree in Physics, following which he spent nine years at University College London working as a research assistant. Later he worked for some years in the United Kingdom and in 1970 he was appointed full-time lecturer in Physics at Kevin Street. He discusses the courses he taught, and explains that those were pioneering years. In 1982 he took up a position in the City of Dublin VEC Head Office in Ballsbridge as Education Officer, and later as Academic Registrar. He recalls the challenging days prior to the formation of DIT and he gives his views on the reasons why the colleges were taken out of the VEC. He moved to the Regional College in Tallaght, and was appointed Head of Department in External Services. He talks about the growth and development of the Regional College during his tenure.e recH

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  James Wrynn, Lecturer in Business and Management, Aungier Street

  James Wrynn

  In this recording James Wrynn initially discusses in detail his lectureship in Management in the old College of Marketing and Design in Mountjoy Square, in the early 1990s, while he was Chair of the City of Dublin VEC, the authority in charge of DIT. He was an active member of the Labour Party since 1973. He describes his brief as Chair of the VEC. He also discusses the awarding of degrees to graduate of DIT courses by Trinity College, Dublin. The strength of DIT in general is described and the status of the institute when it became a degree awarding institution is discussed. In 1993, when Niamh Breathnach was appointed Minister for Education, he became her programme manager and chief advisor, in a change of career which saw him leave his lecturing duties and chairmanship of City of Dublin VEC. These were challenging and policy-driven years, he recalls, and in 1995 he returned to DIT. He discusses his views on the achievements of the VEC and DIT, and also the Grangegorman move in the coming years.