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  Tom Ambrose, Former Assistant Head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Kevin Street

  Tom Ambrose

  Tom Ambrose

  Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick is the birthplace of Tom Ambrose. He recalls his early days, his initial education, and his graduation in Mathematical Science from UCD. In 1956, he began work in London for De Havilland Limited, where he remained for two years, and in 1957 he returned to Ireland and gained employment as a teacher in Electrical Engineering in Kevin Street. At that time in Ireland, technicians were in huge demand. He discusses the structure of the academic system in the college at that time. He also lectured in Mathematics and Physics at UCD, by special permission of Hugh de Lacy, Principal of Kevin Street. He provides his view on Dr. Patrick Hillery and Donagh O’Malley and the changes these men instigated in education in Ireland in the 1960s. He retired in 1996 having spent 39 years in the academic field.

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  Liam Arundel, Former Chief Executive Officer, City of Dublin VEC (Vocational Education Committee)

  Liam Arundel

  Schull in West Cork is the birthplace of Liam Arundel. He received his early education locally, later transferring to boarding school at St. Colman’s in Fermoy. He graduated from UCC and later from Maynooth with a HDip, where he also worked as part-time lecturer. He later taught in Carlow and Birr in the vocational schools in the 1970s. In 1975 he was appointed CEO of Offaly VEC where he remained for five years, and in 1980 he was appointed CEO to the City of Dublin VEC. He discusses his initial impressions of his Dublin post, the challenges of employment in the VEC in those days, the awarding of degrees arrangement with Trinity College, the aspiration by the colleges for independence, the issues with the unions, the structure of the City of Dublin, the formation of the DIT sector and his disappointment at the lack of involvement in the sector by the City of Dublin VEC.

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  Ita Beausang (Nee Hogan), Former Acting Director, College of Music, Chatham Row

  Ita Beausang

  Ita Beausang was Acting Director of the College of Music from 1995-1996. She is a native of Cork city and her early education in music took place under Professor Aloys Fleischmann at UCC. She discusses her reasons for choosing a career in music, and her love of musicology. She obtained a Ph. D. in 18^th century music in Ireland from UCC, which was published in 1966. Her young family took precedence over the following twenty years, and in 1986 she was appointed lecturer in the College of Music. She recalls the exciting times there, as the BMusEd degree was initiated at third level, as was a BMus Performance degree. She discusses the junior and third level areas in the College and the fact that she was appointed Acting Director along with her other duties, and the challenges this entailed. She also provides her views on the move to Grangegorman.

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  Monica Bonnie, Former Teacher of Percussion, College of Music, Chatham Row

  Monica Bonnie

  Monica Bonnie

  Monica Bonnie was recorded in Rathmines and she initially recalls her early childhood stage performances, which she began at the age of four. She learned the piano at the Municipal School of Music in Chatham Row from the age of five, where her father Joe taught percussion. She discusses her father’s performances in Dublin, and on his death, Monica was asked to take his place as a teacher of percussion at the Municipal School of Music in 1961. That year, she was one of a group of musicians who travelled to the Congo to entertain the Irish troops there. She discusses her teaching skills, and the various media of music taught at the school. She remembers all the individual music teachers who worked there down the years, and she discusses the class distinction which existed between those who had attended the Royal Irish Academy and the attendees at the School of Music. In the second section of the recording, Monica Bonnie recalls her childhood in Collins Avenue, Beaumont where she grew up with her two siblings. She discusses the fabric of the buildings at Chatham Row, and she also explains that her father Joe Bonnie taught Larry Mullen, drummer with U2. He also gave him direction in his life in the early days, pointing hem in the direction of his later huge success in the music world. Monica also discusses her many performances in the theatre, and the enormous and detailed work in production.

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  Niamh Breathnach, Former Minister for Education, 1993-1997

  Niamh Breathnach

  Niamh Breathnach was born in Dublin, and qualified as a primary teacher at Carysfort College. She later taught at an inner city school at the Oliver Bond complex, an experience which had a major effect on her socialist beliefs, leading to her decision to join the Labour Party. She ran for public office, winning a Dáil seat in Dublin and became Minister for Education in the Coalition Government on the first day of the new Dáil session. In this recording, she discusses her predecessor in Education, Seamus Brennan, and his work on the Green Paper which she succeeded in having passed. She also discusses her work in having college fees abolished, the people with whom she worked, the setting up of DIT, with the help of her advisor James Wrynn, the guarding of status by the universities, and her work on improving opportunities for good qualifications for women apprentices. She was also very aware of the value of research, and she made major efforts to gain funding for this primarily from Europe.

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  Robbie Burns, Former Head of the School of Management, Aungier Street

  Robbie Burns

  Robbie Burns

  Robbie Burns is a native of Larne, where he received his initial education, and in 1962 he began his studies in Applied Mathematics and the Sciences in Queen’s University. On graduation, he gained employment with the Smurfit organisation and in 1978 he was appointed to a post in the College of Commerce, Rathmines. He started the first digital computer class for business students in the College using the PDP II computer, and the students numbered 25 initially. It was a Certificate Course. He discusses the fact that this was supported by European funding, and that his course marked the beginnings of commercial computing, in what were exciting and challenging times in education. In 1987 he was appointed Head of the School of Management and he discusses his time in this post until his retirement in 2008. He also gives his views on the City of Dublin VEC involvement with the nascent National Institute of Higher Education on the Ballymun project and the subsequent formation of DIT.

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  Tommy Cooke, Head of the Community Links Programme, Dublin Institute of Technology

  Tommy Cooke

  Glasnevin in Dublin is the birthplace of Tommy Cooke. He attended St. Vincent’s during his secondary level years, and later was employed at the Department of Agricultural Chemistry at UCD. In 1971 he also undertook a part-time course in Kevin Street to train as a science laboratory technician, and in 1982 he was offered a full-time lectureship in clinical biochemistry at Kevin Street. He discusses the development of the course, and recalls bringing students from the schools in the Liberties into Kevin Street to arouse in them an interest in further education. He discusses his time spent in Lesotho under an initiative by the Irish Government as part of the Biomedical Work programme. He also discusses the setting up of a new school for disadvantaged students in Mountjoy Square of which he was the instigator in 1996, marking a total change of career direction. This was the origin of the Community Links Programme, which was strongly supported by the late Principal Michael O’Donnell of Bolton Street.

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  Chris Cowley and Jonathan Fisher, Heads of School, Kevin Street

  Chris Cowley and Jonathan Fisher

  Chris Cowley and Jonathan Fisher are natives of Kilkenny. Chris began his studies in Kevin Street in 1953 for his O and A Levels GCE. Jim Roche and Huge de Lacy were on the teaching staff at that time. He later studied and graduated in electrical engineering, and worked in Coventry for the General Electric Company for a short time. He returned to Kevin Street in 1963, and was appointed lecturer in telecommunications. Jonathan Fisher was appointed lecturer in Kevin Street in 1972, in the Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications Departments. The Departments were jointly involved in a new CEI four-year Degree course. Both men discuss the challenges in teaching at that time, the differences in the quality of mathematics as taught then and today, and the pioneering days in setting up new programmes.

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  Paddy Donegan, Former Chair City of Dublin VEC (Vocational Education Committee)

  Paddy Donegan

  Dublin is the birthplace of Paddy Donegan who served for many years as Chair of the City of Dublin VEC. In his very early days he worked at canvassing for Jim Larkin with his father prior to elections. Following his schooling, he got employment with the ESB during the Emergency, at the Pigeon House, and became secretary of the National Engineering Union. In 1954 he was elected as Assistant General Secretary of the Union, and two years later, became Chairman of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions. He joined the City of Dublin VEC in 1956 and was elected Chairman in 1967. He discusses his interest in the proposed Ballymun project, the setting up of the HEA in which he was very involved as Chairman, the National Council of Educational Awards and the formation of important committees. He also discusses the status of DIT during his tenure and his huge belief in the enthusiasm, resourcefulness and spirit of the people working there. In the second part of the recording Paddy Donegan recalls his time as a trade union official, his background in the Labour movement, policy making, and his involvement with the unions, invariably gaining their support. This was of huge importance to him in decision making. He says that the greatest stumbling block during his tenure as chairman of the City of Dublin VEC was the failure to succeed with the Ballymun project. He worked with the City of Dublin VEC for 32 years, spending 18 years as Chairman. He was awarded two Honorary Doctorates after his retirement.

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  Tom Duff, Former Academic Registrar, Dublin Institute of Technology

  Tom Duff

  Tom Duff

  Tom Duff was initially a lecturer in Bolton Street and served as Academic Registrar of the Institute from 1985 until his retirement in 2009. He is a native of Belfast , and in the recording he discusses his background and early education. Having attended the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth for three years as an apprentice, he returned to Belfast and worked as a draughtsman for some years. He then began his studies in Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University, and from 1972 he worked with Harland & Wolff where he remained for three years. He then lectured and was later appointed Head of the Engineering Department at the Regional Technical College in Dundalk. He discusses his work as Academic Registrar in great detail in this interview. His responsibilities included the co-ordination and management of the Academic Council as well as involvement with the National Qualification Authority of Ireland. He discusses the transition from the City of Dublin VEC to DIT and the challenges that entailed. The changes which came about in his post over the years, and the highs and lows experienced during his career as he sees them, are all examined in this recording.

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  Brendan Flanagan, Former Lecturer in Air Navigation, Kevin Street

  Brendan Flanagan

  Omagh, Co. Tyrone is the birthplace of Brendan Flanagan. His early education took place at the local CBS, and at age 18 he joined the Air Corps at Baldonnell, where he was one of 21 students. At the end of his first year of study, he was appointed to Fighter Squadron, and he discusses the conditions which prevailed during the Emergency period. Later he became an instructor and navigator at Baldonnell, and in 1951 he was appointed night class instructor at Kevin Street. During this time he joined Aer Lingus as a pilot. He discusses his position as Chief Instructor in Kevin Street, and his huge interest in the flying boats which came and went from Foynes in Co. Limerick in those days.

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  Brian Forbes, Property and Facilities Officer, Dublin Institute of Technology

  Brian Forbes

  Dublin is the native place of Brian Forbes. He discusses his early education, leading to an NCEA Certificate in Mechanical Engineering and a certificate in Building Services Engineering at DIT Bolton Street. He later was awarded a Diploma in Mechanical (Process Plant) Engineering and a Dip Eng and BSc (Eng) from Bolton Street. In 2003 he was elected Fellow of Engineers Ireland and in 2006 was awarded and MBA from DIT Graduate Business School. In this recording he discusses his employment by RTE as Manager of Property and Infrastructure and Building Services Manage. He describes his workplace at RTE and its challenges. He also discusses his decisions to take up employment with DIT in 2005 and his positive views on the move to Grangegorman.

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  Damian Gallanagh, Facility Administration, Bolton Street

  Damian Gallanagh

  Damian Gallanagh was born in Donegal and he grew up in Bray, Co. Wicklow. When his schooling was completed, he took an apprenticeship with Kieran McNally Solicitors in Dublin. He recalls the company’s involvement in the Arms Trial in the early 1970s. In 1972 he took on the post of temporary Clerical Officer at Bolton Street leading to permanent employment as Senior Clerk in the early 1980s when he was placed in charge of the banking section. In 1990 he was promoted to the College of Marketing and Design and later to Kevin Street. In 1997, he returned to work at Bolton Street, where he is still employed. He discusses his tenure in the various posts he held through the decades, the transition to DIT, and his service on the first governing body at whose meetings he kept the minutes.

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  Brendan Goldsmith, Former Head of School of Mathematics, Former President of DIT, Research Director

  Brendan Goldsmith

  Brendan Goldsmith is a Belfast man, who attended Queen’s University and later Oxford University from where he graduated in Mathematics in 1974. He was then appointed to a lectureship at Kevin Street, where he worked for ten years. He discusses his first impressions of Kevin Street, and the many great changes which came about in that decade. In 1983 he was appointed Head of School (Mathematics) and was involved in the setting up of diploma programmes and computer science programmes. Ten years later, in 1993, he was appointed President of DIT, becoming the first President of the new Institute. He recalls the great challenges he experienced in the position in those early days. He discusses the relationship with Trinity College, his Chairmanship of the Academic Council, his achievements as President, and his instigation, with others of the proposed move to Grangegorman.

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  Bill Grimson, Academic Registrar, Dublin Institute of Technology

  Bill Grimson

  Bill Grimson is a native of Dublin. He discusses his background and his entry to Trinity College Dublin in 1966 to study engineering. On graduation he decided to further his studies at Toronto University, later working for the Ministry of Defence for three years. In 1975 he returned to Dublin to take up a post in Kevin Street, in the Department of Electrical Engineering. He provides his views on the links between Trinity and DIT, the introduction of computerisation to the institute of technology sector, the major change s over the years in DIT, the formation of the Academic Council, the structure and layers of bureaucracy and the research area. Bill Grimson was appointed Head of the Electrical Engineering Department at Kevin Street in the 1990s and he recalls challenging times during the many years he taught night classes. He now holds the post of Academic Registrar at DIT headquarters.

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  Mary Hanafin, Former Minister for Education, Former Chair of Cathal Brugha Street College Council

  Mary Hanafin

  Mary Hanafin has a very long association with DIT. She was a member of City of Dublin VEC from 1985-1991, a student from 1991-2003 when she studied by night for a diploma in Legal Studies. She was Minister for Education from 2004-2008 and she is now Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport as DIT advances towards the new campus at Grangegorman. In this recording she discusses her experiences in all of these positions, and the arrangement with Trinity College in the awarding of degrees. She also explains the reason for the long delay in getting the Grangegorman plan underway, and she discusses the differences in approach taken by politicians today in contrast to those taken in earlier days. She gives her views on university status for the DIT sector. She recalls graduation ceremonies in which she was involved in Cathal Brugha Street, where she presided over proceedings for six years, and she describes her efforts abroad as she worked to attract foreign students to DIT.

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  John Hayden, Former Chief Lecturer, Higher Education Authority

  John Hayden

  John Hayden grew up in Ranelagh in Dublin and was educated by the Christian Brothers at Synge Street. He joined Dublin Corporation as a clerk when he finished school and during this time he studied and graduated with a BSc in Economic Statistics in an external exam. He spent four years working with the ESB and with Bord Fáilte for one year, before joining RTÉ in 1968, in the Management Service Unit. He developed a system of unit costs there. He discusses his introduction to the HEA in 1973, the Ballymun project and the NIHE. He also discusses the proposed establishment of a third university in Dublin, his input on gathering statistical information on the whole sector and his brief on his appointment as CEO of the HEA. He provides his views on the separation of the colleges from the VEC, his opinion on the HEA today and on the proposed move the Grangegorman.

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  Ellen Hazelkorn, Director of Research and Enterprise, Dublin Institute of Technology

  Ellen Hazelkorn

  Ellen Hazelkorn is a native of Chicago, and she begins the discussion by explaining her early enthusiasm for Political Theory, a subject in which she was awarded a Ph.D. from Canterbury University in the 1970s. Her teaching career in Ireland began with the CDVEC College of Commerce, where she taught Politics and allied subjects. She has written widely on contemporary Irish politics. She discusses the real importance of research at the College of Commerce, and she recalls her days as a lecturer there. In 1994 she was appointed Director of the Faculty of Applied Arts, and she discusses her role, and the changes which came about in her tenure. She also discusses her present work, both in Ireland and abroad, and her views on the move to Grangegorman.

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  Joe Hegarty, Former Head of School, Culinary Arts and Food Technology, Cathal Brugha Street

  Joe Hegarty

  Joe Hegarty grew up in Galway city, and following his early education he joined the family hotel business in the city. A short time later he was appointed to teach at the Vocational Hotel School in Athenry, where he worked for four years. Then he left for Wolverhampton Polytechnic, where he lectured for some years. He was involved in developing courses there, and from that background he was offered a position as Head of School of Catering Management in Cathal Brugha Street in 1972. He discusses the fact that in 1978 he was one of the first group from the VEC to study for a Master’s degree at Trinity. He recalls his travels abroad, and the valuable work experience he gained as a result. He also discusses his contribution and input into the Quality Assurance Handbook, which became an important tool to achieve recognition of the fact that the colleges were unified. He details the steps in his career until his retirement in 2005.

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  Frank Henegan, Former Principal/Director, College of Music/Conservatory of Music and Drama, Director of Cultural Affairs, DIT

  Frank Henegan

  Frank Henegan

  Frank Henegan was Principal/Director of the College of Music from 1973-1995. He discusses his background in Tralee, and his early education there. He graduated with an engineering degree from UCD in 1955, and following this he studied for a Music degree there and graduated two years later. He gained employment from 1957-1973 as a design engineer with Metropolitan-Vickers in Manchester and then returned to Ireland where he took up the post of Principal at the College of Music. In this recording he discusses the structural changes in the College in the 1980s, and the location of a section of the College to Adelaide road. He discuses the full-time and part-time teachers individually, their work conditions, their teaching practices and their skills. He explains the systems employed by the NUI and by DIT in awarding degrees in earlier days. In 1979 a Joint Committee was established with the aim of bringing together the Royal Irish Academy of Music and the Dublin College of Music and Frank Henegan explains why this did not succeed. In the second section of the recording, Frank Henegan outlines the background to music education in Ireland in general. He has a passion for the promotion of music as a subject, and discusses its establishment as a third level subject in the 1980s. He recalls his involvement in bringing in foreign music educators to the College of Music in the 1980s, and he discusses the evolution of the DCVEC until its designation as DIT in 1993. Frank Henegan retired from the College of Music in 1996 and became Director of Cultural Affairs at DIT.

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  Matt Hussey, Former Director of the Faculty of Science, Kevin Street

  Matt Hussey

  Matt Hussey is a Tipperary man, born in Cahir. He was educated in the town and was awarded a scholarship to study Electrical Engineering at UCD. On graduation, he gained a scholarship to study for his Master’s in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he completed his Ph.D. Having spent six years in Philadelphia, in 1970 he took up a position with the Health Service in Glasgow, and in 1975 he was appointed lecturer in Kevin Street in the Physics Department. He discusses the designing of new courses and the development of the syllabus in Medical Physics. In 1983 he was appointed Head of the Physics Department. In 1994 he became Director of the Science Faculty and he discusses the challenges and opportunities afforded by this position. He also discusses his tenure as member of the Academic Council, the fact that good academic discussion was possible in the Council, and he reflects on the consequent robustness of its authority. He speaks about his work with Tom Duff and Joe Hegarty in writing the book “The Story of Dublin Institute of Technology” which was published by Blackhall in 2000.

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  Nell Kane, Former Teacher, College of Music, Chatham Row

  Nell Kane

  Nell Kane

  Nell Kane was recorded in Wicklow town, where she lives. She discusses her early life, growing up in Dublin, and attending, at the age of ten, the Municipal School of Music. She gained her Diploma in Music from Trinity College of Music London and she began her part-time teaching career at Mount Melleray. She later taught at Muckross Park, Sion Hill, Cross and Passion Kilcullen and Christian Brothers in Crumlin. Here instruments were the cello, the viola and the violin. She formed an orchestra which went on to win a cup at Feis Ceoil. She taught in the College of Music on a part-time basis until her 79^th year. She discusses the appreciation of music which has always existed in Dublin, though in the past, more appreciation but less opportunity existed. She also recalls her membership of the Legion of Mary during her youth in Dublin.

  In the second section of the recording Nell Kane explains that she was a founder member of the Students Union. She also discusses the Irish language, and Irish music and discusses her views during her earlier days. In the 1950s she was appointed the first teacher in a new music initiative to teach music in schools in rural Co. Wicklow. She discusses this in great and interesting detail. She also recalls here own orchestra and playing for a broadcast from the Radio Eireann studios in Henry Street. The stike which lasted for 13 weeks in 1976 in the College of Music is also recalled in this recording.

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  Geraldine Kennedy, Editor of the Irish Times Newspaper, Former Student College of Commerce

  Geraldine Kennedy

  Geraldine Kennedy is a native of Carrick-on-Suir. Her early education was gained locally at the Presentation Convent, and she later attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Waterford. She was inspired by one of her English teachers to pursue a career in journalism and was one of sixteen students to study at the first journalism course in the School of Commerce in Rathmines at the time. She recalls her early days in journalism, and the differences in how journalism is taught today compared to how the subject was taught in her student days. She also discusses her time in politics as a Progressive Democrat TD under the leadership of Des O’Malley. She discusses her employment in The Irish Times initially in 1973, and her return in more recent times, working on Features, and later becoming Political Correspondent. She was appointed Editor of The Irish Times in 2002 and she discusses her work in a male dominated environment. She speaks about the present structure of DIT, and the most memorable articles she has written during her career in journalism.

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  Noel Lindsay, Former Secretary General, Department of Education

  Noel Lindsay

  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.