2010 March E-zine: please browse using the links below

Welcome

What's New?

Alumni Awards 2010 - Call for Nominations

The Alumni Awards 2010 is now being planned and we would appreciate your help in identifying alumni who you think are deserving of recognition. Nominations should be received no later than 17 March 2010.
Online nomination forms are available at www.tcd.ie/alumni/events/tcd/alumniawards-2010.php

Win Match Tickets to Leinster's Heineken Cup Quarter Final Game

To celebrate the Trinity Affinity Credit Card, Bank of Ireland is offering you the chance to win match tickets to Leinster's much anticipated Heineken Cup Quarter Final game on 9 April against ASM Clermont. For more, see www.tcd.ie/alumni/support/giving/creditcard.php

Trinity Alumni Career Network

Launched last month, the Trinity Alumni Career Network is in its final weeks with some excellent sessions to come on financial and professional services, entrepreneurship and alternative career options. Spaces are still available for the Tuesday panel discussions, see www.tcd.ie/alumni/careers for more details and for videos of previous speakers.

Trinity Today Photography Competition

The 2010 Competition is now open to alumni, students and staff of Trinity College. This year’s theme is “Trinity Days” – providing applicants with artistic license to submit images (old and new) that they think capture the character and spirit of the College. Closing date for entries is 31 May 2010 – get shooting today!

Download your application form and competition out line at www.tcd.ie/alumni/news/competitions or contact the Alumni Relations team for more information T: 01 896 8522 E: alumni.relations@tcd.ie  

Are You a Fan Yet?

TCD Alumni now have a Fan Page on Facebook and we’d love for you to become a fan. Share your College memories, post pictures and check out other news from the Trinity community. See www.facebook.com/pages/Dublin/TCD-Alumni/230536417477

Campus News

TCD Trinity Alumni Career Network Launched

The Trinity Alumni Career Network is an initiative to assist unemployed TCD graduates during the current challenging economic climate. Following a survey of 15,000 TCD graduates nationwide, the six-week programme of panel discussions, workshops, career advice and networking opportunities was specially designed to meet their needs as they consider career options in challenging economic circumstances. More

Professor Brendan Kennelly Wins 2010 Irish PEN Award

Professor Brendan Kennelly, Fellow Emeritus and former Professor of Modern Literature in the School of English, was presented with the 2010 Irish PEN Award for Contribution to Irish Literature recently. Poet, personality, raconteur and professor, some of Kennelly’s most famous works include Cromwell (1983/87), Poetry me Arse (1995) and more recently Reservoir Voices (2009). More

Joint Committee on the Constitution of the Houses of the Oireachtas Hosted by Trinity for the First Time

The Department of Political Science co-hosted a public consultation on electoral reform with the Joint Committee on the Constitution in Trinity’s Public Theatre in February. This was the first time in Trinity’s history that a fully constituted Joint Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas sat in Trinity and only the second time in the history of the Oireachtas that a formal Committee has sat outside the Oireachtas. More

New NIID Programme Launched to Promote Inclusion and Diversity in the Workplace

Trinity’s National Institute for Intellectual Disability (NIID) launched its NIID Business Partners programme, promoting inclusion and diversity in the workplace. Speaking at the event Leslie Buckley, Chairman of Saongroup.com and IrishJobs.ie, said “The NIID Business Partners are a group of forward thinking companies who are committed to the values of inclusive recruitment policies and who strongly believe in harnessing potential and talent from all parts of society”. More

TCD Student Wins 2010 Engineers Ireland Biomedical Research Medal

Trinity postgraduate student Kevin Moerman of the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering (http://www.tcd.ie/bioengineering/) was awarded the 2010 Engineers Ireland Biomedical Research Medal. Kevin’s research paper offers a better understanding of human muscle behaviour in compression, important for preventing pressure sores from prolonged periods of immobility. More

Science Gallery Nominated for European Museum of the Year Award

Trinity’s Science Gallery has been nominated for the 2010 European Museum of the Year Award.  Opened in 2008, the Science Gallery has welcomed more than 500,000 visitors, showcased ten exhibitions and established itself as the premier venue for exploring the cutting edge of science and technology research. More

Trinity Intervarsity Debating Competition 2010

This years competition was hosted jointly by the Phil and the Hist and sponsored by Accenture, it attracted 90 teams from all over Ireland and the UK, making it the largest Intervarsity ever held in Trinity and the largest such competition held in Ireland. It was won by Eoghan Casey and Paddy Rooney representing the Kings Inns, beating teams from St Andrews, Oxford and Cambridge. Tim Cody, Senior Executive at Accenture and Honorary Secretary of Trinity Business Alumni presented the winning team with their trophy. l - r: Tim Cody (Accenture) Paddy Rooney, Eoghan Casey (King's Inns)

For Biosciences Development progress see www.tcd.ie/biosciences/webcams

For School of Medicine Tercentenary (1711-2011) updates see www.medicine.tcd.ie/tercentenary/

For School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences news see   www.pharmacy.tcd.ie/assets/pdf/The_Elixir-Issue3.pdf

For more Trinity College news please see www.tcd.ie/Communications

Upcoming Events

Campus Events:

Trinity Second-Hand Booksale
TCD Association & Trust Annual Dinner
Science Gallery's LOVE LAB
Library Exhibits
Long Room Hub Events

Branch & Affinity Group Events:

Brussels Branch -Table Quiz Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Cork Branch - Annual Dinner Friday, 16 April 2010
East Midlands - Visit to Lyddington Bede House Sunday, 18 April 2010
Gloucestershire Branch - Summer Event
London Dining Club - Bicentenary Dinner Friday, 18 June 2010
New York Trinity Ball – Saturday, 15 May 2010
North West England - Annual Dinner Saturday, 24 April 2010
Oxford Branch - Summer Event Saturday, 5 June 2010
Swiss Branch – Tour of Aigle Castle Saturday, 12 June 2010
Trinity Business Alumni (TBA)
Wicklow Branch - Musical Evening Friday, 12 March 2010

Trinity Second-Hand Booksale – runs from Thursday 18 to 20 March

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Trinity second-hand book sale, the largest charity book sale in Ireland. The annual book sale is a three day event held in Trinity College’s Public Theatre and all proceeds raised will be used to buy books, journals, maps and other research materials for Trinity College Library and for smaller specialist School libraries within College. 

TCD Association & Trust Annual Dinner - Friday 14 May 2010

7.30pm Dining Hall TCD
Guest Speaker: Senator Shane Ross
Further information & reservations, see www.tcd.ie/alumni/events/tcd

LOVE LAB: THE SCIENCE OF DESIRE - runs till 12 March 2010

What lies behind those butterflies you feel when you fall in love? What makes one person’s dream date a nightmare for another? Does romance really exist or do our genes precondition us to seek out particular partners? Join Science Gallery’s month long LOVE LAB to help us reveal the science of desire.

Library Exhibits

‘Dublin: the College and the City 1250 – 1950’ – Runs till May 2010
This exhibition provides a rich view of life in Dublin, based on the words and experiences of generations of citizens of, and visitors to, the city.

‘Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray’ – Runs April 2010
This exhibition is mounted in conjunction with the Dublin City Council initiative Dublin: One City, One Book, which this year features ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde’. The exhibition will display some of the rich material the Library has on one of its most illustrious former graduates.

For more information on TCD Library exhibitions, see www.tcd.ie/Library/about/exhibitions.php

Long Room Hub Events

The Trinity Long Room Hub operates a busy programme of lectures and seminars, these include:
‘From War Talk to Rights Talk: the Wartime Origins of the Human Rights Movement, 1940-1945.’ - 11 March 2010
‘The Ethics of Climate Change’ - 15 March 2010
‘From Grain to Pixel: The Archival Life of Film in Transition’ - 22 March 2010

For detailed information on the above and other Long Room Hub events, see www.tcd.ie/longroomhub

Brussels Branch – Table Quiz Tuesday, 2 March 2010

Old Oak Bar | Rue Franklin 26 | Brussels 8.00 pm
€10 per table of 4
For further information email trinityalumnibrussels@gmail.com

Cork Branch - Annual Dinner Friday, 16 April 2010

Rochestown Park Hotel at 7.15 pm
Guest Speaker: Professor David McConnell, Genetics TCD, M.A., F.T.C.D., Ph.D. (Cal.Tech)
For further information contact Gerry Donovan donov@eircom.net

East Midlands - Visit to Lyddington Bede House Sunday, 18 April 2010

Lunch beforehand at the excellent Old White Hart.
On 3 October 2010 the Branch will be meeting for lunch at Burleigh Court, the hotel on the campus of Loughborough University, when Chloe Cockerill, M.A. (1970) a popular speaker on the arts circuit, will speak on “Church Curiosities”. 
For further information contact Rosemary May may.inglewood@woodhouse-eaves.co.uk

Gloucestershire Branch - Summer Event

The summer event will take place in early July and will include a visit to a country house with lunch.
For further information contact Jonathan Moffett B.A. (1980) jonathan.mof@auditel.co.uk

London Dining Club - Bicentenary Dinner Friday, 18 June 2010

Dining Hall TCD at 7.30 pm
Guest Speaker: Roy Foster M.A. Ph.D. (1971), Carroll Professor of Irish History Hertford College Oxford and Ireland's leading historian.
For further information contact Carol Leighton carolleighton@btinternet.com

New York Trinity Ball – Saturday, 15 May 2010

The NY Alumni Association is delighted to announce this years Trinity Ball will be taking place on Saturday, 15 May at the newly opened Trump Soho in Tribeca. Tickets, entertainment and further details will appear shortly on the official Ball website www.trinityballny.com. The Alumni would be delighted to hear from any artists who are interested in performing at this year’s event. Please contact the events committee at tcdalumninyc@gmail.com.

North West England - Annual Dinner Saturday, 24 April 2010

Lancaster Suite of Lancashire County Cricket Club Old Trafford Manchester M16 0PX.
Guest will be Dr Ronald (Ronnie) Russell M.A. (1973), a distinguished scientist and lecturer in microbiology at TCD and a consultant on environmental management and biological controls to governments at home and abroad and to the United Nations. For further details contact byrnempj@hotmail.com.

The North West England branch arranges a number of social events on a regular basis. We endeavour to inform every graduate, who has an address within a 50 mile radius of Manchester, with details of the Annual Dinner and other events. If you have not heard from us in the past 12 months, please send your contact details to Martin P J Byrne M.A. (1963) byrnempj@hotmail.com

Oxford Branch - Summer Event Saturday, 5 June 2010

Reception at 12.30pm followed by lunch at 1.30 pm.
For reservations and further details contact Martin Gaughan martinigaughan@yahoo.co.uk

Swiss Branch – Tour of Aigle Castle Saturday, 12 June 2010

The next event is a tour of Aigle Castle followed by wine tasting in a local winery on 12 June 2010.
For further information contact Malcolm Ferguson, B.A.I., M.A., (1974) MFE@ch.ibm.com

Trinity Business Alumni (TBA)

For the latest news and events, including the upcoming Corporate Fashion Show Saturday, 6 March and NCB Irish Market Outlook, 22 March see www.tba.ie.

Wicklow Branch - Musical Evening Friday, 12 March 2010

Glenview Hotel 7.30 pm
Musical Evening including fork supper and wine tasting, €12 per person.
For further information contact Brian Cox briangcox@gmail.com  

For a full schedule of events in TCD please see:
www.tcd.ie/alumni/events/tcd

For a full schedule of Branch events please see:
www.tcd.ie/alumni/events/branch

Alumni Interview

David Orr M.D., F.R.C.S.I., (1986)

Consultant plastic surgeon, Our Lady's Children's Hospital and St
James's Hospital, Dublin Graduated 1986 in Medicine

What does you current job involve?
I am a plastic surgeon specializing in reconstructive surgery in children, particularly for cleft lip and palate.

What made you choose your career?
I decided to be a doctor when I was about ten years old. My father (also a Trinity graduate) was a GP in a coal mining valley in South Wales. I remember him being on duty over a Christmas in the early 'seventies during a 'flu epidemic doing house calls and emergency clinics around the clock. He would come home for my mother to give him soup and sandwiches and a new list of patients he had to see. Then off out into the rain and sleet with his doctor's bag in the Citroen Dyane, returning home in the middle of the night. I thought he had the most important job in the whole world! I initially wanted to be a paediatrician, but as a medical student and intern in Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital I had the great fortune of working for Mr David Lane who was not just a really good surgeon but also a very kind and excellent doctor. He was my inspiration to do surgery and as I specialized in plastic surgery I was able to return to my interest in children's medicine.

What has been the highlight of your career up to now?
After eleven years in post the highlight has been to see the development of our multidisciplinary cleft team. Despite all the problems of our health service I can confidently say that our small but tightly knit team can provide a breadth and quality of treatment comparable with anywhere in the world. I have also been able to bring some of that expertise to work with Operation Smile www.operationsmile.ie, a charity that specializes in the treatment of facial deformities in children in the developing world. Since 2003 I have travelled to a number of developing countries (mainly Ethiopia) and worked with international teams to repair clefts in hundreds of patients. During the visits we train local surgeons and other specialists in care of these children who would otherwise never have been treated and help them to build sustainable treatment programmes in the long term.

How do you like to spend your free time?
Mostly with my wife and kids. I go surfing and fishing in Mayo and skiing in Spain when I get the chance. I play the guitar and my weekly lesson is my bit of sacrosanct psychotherapy.

What is your most vivid memory of time in Trinity?
Falling in love and getting married in my last year. The lifelong friends I made. Blue skies on a crisp winter's day in Front Square, the green desk lamps in the 1937 Reading Room, lying on the grass in summer time and talking, talking for hours and hours over a single cup of coffee. I loved every minute of it. Intellectually it has to be Petr Skrabanek and James McCormick in the Department of Community Health (aka the Department of Subversion and Dissidence). I think all doctors and anyone interested in health care should read Skrabanek's The Death of Humane Medicine and the rise of Coercive Healthism.

Are you still in touch with your friends from student days?
Yes, very much so. Most of my close group of friends ended up back in Dublin. They have been great support when needed and great pleasure. Rock solid friendships are the best thing I took away from Trinity.

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Branch & Affinity News

DU Women Graduates Association (DUWGA)
Trinity Business Alumni (TBA)
Boston
East Midlands
New York
North West England
Switzerland 
Wicklow

DU Women Graduates Association (DUWGA)

The DUWGA Annual Dinner took place in the Kildare Street and University Club in October .The guest speaker was Aine Lawlor B.A. (1982) who gave an entertaining but thoughtful account of her time in Trinity and her career in RTE under the title of “Connecting through Culture”.

l to r: Hilary Roche, Hilary Prentice, Veronica Campbell, Ann Budd, Kristina Odlum, Mary Morrissey, Jennifer Gill, Marion Courtney McKillen, Olwyn Lanigan

In November DUWGA organised a reception to mark their gift to the Trinity College Art Collection of the modello for the Trinity Hall Centenary sculpture ‘The Scholar’ by the distinguished artist Imogen Stuart. The donation was in memory of Anne Denard (née Brambell) M.A., (1951) who died in October 2008. 

l-r: Jennifer Gill, DUWGA President Mary Morrissey, Vincent Denard, Michael Gleeson, Catherine Giltrap, Curator of the College Art Collection

TAP Award - Nadine O’Donoghue, a Senior Freshman in Religions and Theology/Sociology, was the 2009 winner of the DUWGA award presented at the DUWGA Christmas event on in December. For more DUWGA news and events visit www.duwga.tcdlife.ie.

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Trinity Business Alumni (TBA)

The TBA, open to all graduates of the College, continue to host many engaging and high profile events. The most recent roundtable breakfast was addressed by Dr David Lloyd, Dean of Research for the College, who spoke insightfully on the topic of Accelerating Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Ireland.
For more information and to join the TBA, see www.tba.ie

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Boston

At the annual Ancient Universities Burns Night held in the Cambridge Boat Club in Boston on 16 January, Trinity was represented by several alumni and guests including Declan Boland M.A. (1977) and his wife Kate, Jeremy & Martha Alderman, John O'Brien (UCD), and Mark O'Neil & Karen Wallace. Declan gave the toast on behalf of the Provost, Dr John Hegarty M.A. (j.o.), Sc.D. (1989).  Other universities represented included Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, St Andrew’s and Aberdeen.

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East Midlands

At their lunch in October 2009 members and their guests were fortunate in being able to welcome as their speaker, John Dillon B.A.I., M.Sc., M.B.A. (1992) , Trinity’s new Alumni Director, who proved to be a most entertaining and informative guest.

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New York

The NY Pan-Alumni Association, chaired by Naomi McMahon B.B.S. (2005), met with Minister Billy Kelleher during his visit to New York in February. The Minister discussed the launch of the Global Irish Network, which took place in London on 4 February, and emphasised the importance of regional alumni networks in leveraging and growing the global Irish community.

l-r: Tim Roche (UCC), Pat O'Connell (UCC), Naomi McMahon (TCD), Minister Billy Kelleher and Maurice Landers (UL).

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North West England

The North West England Branch enjoyed a superb barbeque at the beautiful home of Peter and Sandra Reynolds at Nether Alderley in August 2009.The group took advantage of the fine weather to visit the very impressive St. Mary's Church dating from the 14th Century and the 15th Century watermill at Nether Alderley. It was a memorable afternoon and all agreed we should hold another summer event in 2010.  

l-r: Barbara Page,Theresa Stanley, David Page B.A.I.,(1968), Joan Colclough, David Temperley M.B.(1984), James Temperley, Peter Reynolds B.A.I., M.A.,(1981), Anne Storey, Derek Stanley M.B.,(1969), James Chang M.B., M.A.(1966), Richard Colclough B.A., B.Sc (1950), Harold Storey B.A.,(1949), Sue Temperley.

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Switzerland

The Swiss branch was delighted to welcome the new Irish Ambassador to Switzerland, HE Anthony Mannix as guest speaker to our Christmas dinner in Bern in December. Eighteen members braved the snow storm that evening to be with us. 

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Wicklow

We've held our elections, it's a new year and we've a great programme of events for our members.  We have also been remembering our first and founding members who started the County Wicklow TCD Association in 1992.

Sadly two of those people, John (Jack) McCann B.A. (1986) and Frederick (Fred) O'Connell B.A. (1974) are no longer with us.  Fred died at a young age in 2008, but in his Will he bequeathed €1,000 to the Trinity library. These books to be inscribed with a dedication to Fred will cover his own favourite subject, naval and military history.

We have now begun the task of writing the history of those first 18 years and of creating our own website and we hope to have that up and running shortly, a gesture I suppose to modernity!

We also hope to engage a bit more with our Trinity brethren, this is very much a feature of our early years.  So, if your Branch would like to get to know our Branch please get in touch.

A casual chat at last year's Spring Lunch has led to an interesting development for this year's lunch.  We discovered that we have quite a few members who paint... so alongside the lunch on 25 April at which the guest speaker will be Senator David Norris, M.A. (1968), there will be an exhibition of some of our artists' work.

Best wishes to all at home and abroad and we look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to some of our Wicklow events in the future.

Brian Cox M.Ed. (1982)

For all branch contacts see: www.tcd.ie/alumni/groups/branch

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Sport

Club Round Up
Upcoming Activities

Director of Sport Retires

Terry McAuley took early retirement in December from his post as Director of Sport. Terry has worked in College for over 30 years and his contribution to College Sport has been outstanding. He leaves behind a confident and enthusiastic team.

It’s been a busy semester on the Trinity sports calendar with many victories, close defeats and firsts for the College teams.

Club Round Up

This year the DU Aikido Club celebrates its 35th year- to mark the occasion classes have been held to encourage new people to try sport and a weapons training class was introduced. The club will soon be hosting Irish Aikido Federation's Spring Course with a visiting instructor from Hombu Dojo Japan.

AFC Ladies (Soccer) Club are first in their league with one match left to play against Blanchardstown IT to win the league. The Club won the Plate in the indoor intervarsities in Galway - first time the Trinity ladies soccer team have won this.

Trinity Basketball is flourishing - with four teams competing in both College and Dublin leagues, as well as freshers' teams. With the Intervarsities fast approaching, both men and ladies will look to capitalise on remaining regular season fixtures and the upcoming Colours game. The men’s team hope to regain their position in the Varsities top tier while the Ladies are coming off their most successful Varsities ever.

DU Ladies Boat Club is currently the 'Bank of Ireland' highest ranked female university rowing club in Ireland, having won both Inter 8+ and Senior 8+ at intervarsities last year. The Club won the coveted Corcoran Cup for the first time in 6 years and claimed Inter 4+ and Senior 8+ victories at Trinity Regatta. The club is currently ranked 44th out of 300 crews in British and International crews at the Women's Eights Head of the River Race.

In November Trinity Boxing won the Junior Intervarsity Championships, returning with 3 champions and 3 other finalists. Colours was convincingly won by a score of 5-2 in February a result that means Dublin University Boxing Club are current Irish Junior and Senior Intervarsity Champions, Colours Champions and British and Irish Universities and Hospitals Champions.

The DU Cycling competed in the Downhill Mountain Bike intervarsity competition in January.  Trinity had three representatives in Richard Smith (elite), Tom Heavey (senior) and Steve Scrivener (Senior). DIT managed to take the overall best college with Trinity managing a very respectable second. This was the first downhill mountain bike intervarsity in Ireland ever with many universities showing interest in running one in the future.

Trinity's Fencing Epee teams achieved Strong finishes in both the Men's and Ladies events in our hosted Duffy Epee Memorial Cup recently, which saw teams travelling from around Europe to compete. With second place results by both Men and Ladies teams in the Trinity Foil, coupled with a triumphant victory over DKIT in the Sabre Colours, DU Fencing Club sets its focus on the Intervarsity Cup.

Having won the AI Shield in 08/09, DU Ladies Football Club (Rugby) are hoping to improve on their previous success. Coaches, Louis Magee has high hopes for the remainder of this season and next year. Training takes place every Wednesday and Friday at 7pm on the college rugby pitch. Contact Kiva (085-7267490) or Sarah (086-1614163) for more information.

This year Trinity Camogie club reached the semi-final of the Purcell Shield where they were knocked out by a strong Queen's University side. Captain Rachel Ruddy received a Purcell All-Star award. 

The Senior footballers have reached the semi final of the Trench Cup where they will play British Champions Napier University.

The Ladies footballers under Ryan Casey won the  All Ireland league title and are now through to the Lynch cup 1/4 final against Jordanstown on March 3rd in Clanna Gael.  The girls beat Athlone in the first round of the Lynch cup,  they had a training session this week with Finbar Egan.  There will be an Old Girls match this year on Saturday 27th March.

Trinity’s Senior hurlers made great strides forward this year, under new manager Stephen McNamara of Clare. The highlight of the year was a 2point victory in the Ryan Cup over reigning champions Mary Immaculate. Despite being joint top of the group, Trinity were eliminated on score difference.

The annual Old Boys game was held in Ringsend in December. After 60 minutes of intense hurling, club president Tom Heffernan declared the game a draw. At the Old Boys dinner after the match, the Old Boys scholarship scheme was launched. For more information on the scholarship scheme or to get involved in Trinity Hurling Old Boys, contact Fergal Landy.  (fergallandy@gmail.com).

The annual GAA ball takes place on Thursday 25 March in Wynn's Hotel Abbey St – for further information, please contact Eoin Vaughan, GAA Development Officer gaadev@tcd.ie

DU Golf Club is having a very successful start to the season and has been unbeaten so far at this half way stage. We are showing good strength in depth this year, even entering a 'Wedges' team in the 3 man league. The DUGC and DUGS annual trip to Enniscrone for the David McMahon Memorial Trophy is due to be played on the weekend of 27 March.

DU Harriers & Athletic Club’s tradition of good performances at Intervarsity and international level is being maintained so far this season and it is the ladies who are leading the way. Becky Woods, Bryony Treston and Fiona O’Friel were recipients of Sports Scholarships while the women’s ‘A’ team finished second at the Maynooth Road Relays only losing out to a strong DCU team. In December, Dublin played host to the Spar European Cross Country Championships where Trinity was proudly represented by Liam Tremble (junior men), Bryony Treston (U23 women) and the impressive Mark Kenneally (senior men)."

In February the DU Judo Club travelled to France to watch the Tournoi de Paris judo competition, one of the biggest competitions in the world. The club also recently attended the Intervarsities Judo Competition in Galway, and managed to retain our excellent record on the mat. We came home with gold and silver medals in the Mens' Team, and silver in the Womens' Teams. A video of the highlights can be seen at www.youtube.com/user/ocarrollj#p/a/u/0/5nAYPeXh-HU. For more information, contact trinityjudo@gmail.com.

The Knights of the Campanile have been enjoying an active year with a busy schedule of events. As well as the traditional role of hosting visiting teams to Trinity, the Knights have encouraged increased interaction between sports clubs in the College. A second annual Sports Day and an inaugural Sports Ball will be held in March in conjunction with the Heraeans. Meanwhile, old knights are being encouraged to get back in touch with the society through the website. The knights are in the early stages of planning a resurrection of the annual dinner next year, which all will agree, is long overdue!

Dublin University Netball Club are currently playing weekly in the top two divisions of the Netball Ireland League and Trinity are unbeaten in the CUSAI league so far this season. Having been narrowly beaten into second place in Intervarsities 2009, DUNC have firmly set their sights on victory in Belfast this year.

The Squash Club's increasing profile in Trinity has seen this year seven teams compete in the Leinster league this year: four Men’s midweek, two Ladies and a Saturday team. Under Elvy D'Costa's continuing guidance, Trinity won three out of four of the Men’s categories and the both Ladies categories in the annual Colours tie, in November.  The Club has enjoyed a successful tour against the University of Oxford in January 2010, as well as hosting the University of Edinburgh in early February.  Trinity will send teams to contest the Intervarsity Competition in Cork at the end of March and is confident of returning with silverware to Dublin.

Sub Aqua www.shipwreckconference.org/images/Audacious%20pic.jpg

DUSAC recently hosted a series of Technical Diving talks in the Arts Block which were attended by a broad cross-section of the Irish diving community. People flew and drove from all corners of the island to listen to the speakers. From voluntary donations on the door, the club raised over €1000 for a variety of good causes, including the RNLI, Spinal Injuries Ireland, Barrettstown Gang, the National Maritime Museum and Irish Cave Rescue.

The Dublin University Tae Kwon-Do club has been training continuously every Monday and Wednesday night since the start of the academic year. The club won colours against UCD this year and are looking forward to the Intervarsities in April were we will have a great chance to win a number of medals and hope to do so.

The triathlon season is just starting up but Trinity Triathlon Club is already in full swing. The club has 7 brand new road racing bikes (Trek 1.2) which are available to student, staff and alumni members for both training and racing. The club recently organised a Relay Static Ironman in aid of the Haiti Appeal and St. Vincent de Paul raising €1013 for the two causes. Potential alumni members looking to take part in this wonderful sport should check out www.tcdtri.com for more information.

The Volleyball Club has been competing in both the men’s and women’s student CUSAI league and the two teams recently performed well at the UCD Blitz. The VAI championship in April is the next big tournament for the club to look forward.

Trinity Sports Centre held the Inaugural University Interprovincial Waterpolo Championship on Sunday 21st February.  The Women’s Leinster team won the Competition and Trinity students, Carolyn Hayes, Ruth Wallace and Deirdre Kindregan, represented the College on the team. Josh Walker and Carolyn Hayes from Trinity were selected and will represent the University on the Celtic Nations Irish team when they go to Cardiff on the 26 to 28 March 2010.

Dublin University Association Football Club (soccer) have been promoted to the higher Major 1C Division with the Trinity boys are well placed to capture another title going into the latter part of the season.

The Freshers have just returned from competing in the Irish Universities Harding Cup at NUI Galway where they managed to reach the Plate Final before going down to the hosts.

Terry McAuley, Jimmy Cumiskey  and John Hudson continue at the helm of DUAFC  with major support from club president  John Murphy  and  all are totally committed to  bringing that one elusive trophy the Collingwood Cup back to Trinity once again.

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Upcoming Activities

March
4th                   Colours (Rugby Club)
5th -7th            Ryan Cup Semi Finals & Final (Hurling)
6th                   Women’s Outdoor Intervarsity Competition hosted by (Ultimate Frisbee)
6th                   Gannon/Corcorcan Cup (Boat Clubs Colours)
6th                   Hockey Ball to be held in Belvedere Rugby Club – please contact hockeyal@tcd.ie for further information
7th                   Mixed Outdoor Intervarsities hosted by (Ultimate Frisbee)
11th                 Sports Ball – tickets go on sale on 4th March – please contact ducac@tcd.ie for further information
13th                 Tideway, London (Ladies Boat)
13th-14th         UK Outdoor Open Nationals (Ultimate Frisbee)
19-21st            Waterpolo Intervarsity (Swimming)
20th                 Dublin Head (Ladies Boat)
24th                  Sports Day organised by the Knights/Heraeams
25th-28th         ISTO in Belfast (Trampoline)
26th-28th         Celtic Nations – Cardiff (Waterpolo)
27th                 National 8’s Head Galway (Ladies Boat)
27th                  Family Fun Day in the Sports Centre – please email sport@tcd.ie for further information
27th-28th         Open Outdoor Intervarsities (Ultimate Frisbee)
31st                  The Sports Hall of Fame Awards will be awarded to the Harriers and Athletics Club email DUHACAlumni@tcd.ie for further information.

April                    
10th                 Colours (Swimming)
10th                 University Championships (Ladies Boat)
11th                 Skibbereen Regatta (Ladies Boat)
17th                 Neptune Regatta (Ladies Boat)
18th                 Commercial Regatta (Ladies Boat)
23/24th            IUAA outdoor track and field championships (Harriers and Athletics Club)

For more information visit www.tcd.ie/sport

Class Notes

David Norris M.A. (1968)

In July 2009, Senator David Norris was invited by the State of California to fly to America. He received a Certificate of Merit, signed by the Mayor, from the State of California and the City of San Francisco in acknowledgement of his work for human rights.

Richard Pine M.A. (1971)

Richard Pine established the Durrell School of Corfu, of which he was the Director 2001-8. While living in Ireland, he was a founder member of the Irish Theatre Archive and the Irish Writers' Union. He is an honorary Fellow of the Royal Irish Academy of Music. His books include Lawrence Durrell: the Mindscape, The Thief of Reason: Oscar Wilde and Modern Ireland, The Diviner: the art of Brian Friel and Dark Fathers into Light: Brendan Kennelly. His most recent publication is Music and Broadcasting in Ireland. He is a frequent contributor to The Irish Times. Now retired, he lives in Corfu.

Michael O’Higgins B.A. (1975)

Michael was reappointed to a second three year term as Chairman of the Audit Commission beginning October 2009. He has also been a Non-Executive Director of HM Treasury and Chairs the HMT Audit Committee since October 2008. He became Chairman of Alexander Mann Solutions, the global leader in Recruitment Process Outsourcing in August 2009.

Yvonne Mary Bruton Miller B.Sc. (Rem.Ling.) (1987)

Yvonne and her colleague Amada Rees formed The Baby Sign Factory Ltd in 2008. They have won several major Nursery Industry Awards for their launch product "Bamba's First Comforts"- a toy kit which promotes early communication in young babies. Their experience as Specialist Speech and Language Therapists led to the development of the kit which is now being sold internationally and is in line for more awards this year.
Previous awards received are BACRA Playtime Product of the Year 2008, British Female Inventors and Innovators -Special Recognition Award 2008, Talking Tots Great Toy Guide Award 2008, Practical Pre-School Silver Award 2008. For more information visit www.babysignfactory.com

Morgan Crowley B.Sc. (Mgmt.), M.A., (1992)

Award-winning performer Morgan Crowley has enjoyed a diverse 2009: upon completion of two concurrent contracts with Cirque du Soleil and in the title role of Phantom of the Opera in the USA, he returned to his recurring role in BBC’s Eastenders and a debut role in The Tudors, presented his cabaret in five countries, featured as an aerial artist in an historic event at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport to mark the city’s 20th Anniversary and premiered several new classical works in London and New York.

Highlights of his concert and cabaret work to date include the Carnegie Hall Gala, the world premiere of an Italian experimental opera in London’s Royal Festival Hall, Grammy-nominated live CD recording, the Academy Awards in LA, Radio City Music Hall New York, BBC’s legendary Friday Night Is Music Night and Feinstein’s on Broadway.

Future engagements include a TV series in Australia, a guest role in a British TV series, an arena event in San Francisco and Zurich, several world premieres of classical music and new drama readings, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui in the UK and a new Broadway musical (2010/2011). Please visit www.morgancrowley.com for further information.

Jeffrey Crosbie B.A. (1996)

Jeffrey has was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Monash University in Melbourne, Australia for his thesis entitled "Synchrotron Microbeam Radiation Therapy". Jeff is working as a post-doctoral research fellow at Monash University and as a medical physicist at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. Jeff is married to Maria and they have two children.

 

 

Brenda Moore-McCann B.A., Ph.D. (1996)

Brian O'Doherty/Patrick Ireland: Between Categories (2009) by Dr Brenda Moore-McCann is the first book to explain in depth the extraordinary range of a career spanning fifty years. Fully illustrated it is already attracting positive critical reviews (Irish Arts Review Dec. 2009 & www.artcritical.com ). See www.seeartmatters.com ,www.amazon.com

Laura Egan B.A. (2005)

Laura received an M.Litt. in Material Culture & Artefact Studies from the University of Glasgow in 2007. She is currently working in the National Library of Ireland.

Eoin Haugh B.A. (2005)

Both Claire B.A. (2004) & Eoin Haugh B.A. (2005) celebrated their marriage in the College Chapel on the 19 December 2009.

ESS Reunion – Class of ’89

When you are a 20 year old student looking forward to the future, 20 years seems like such a long time. However as a 40 something year old graduate looking back on those years it’s as if they disappeared in the blink of an eye.

And on 10 October 2009 that’s just what happened when the ESS class of 1989 met. Nearly 20 years to the day since graduation almost 100 members of the class of ’89 came together to celebrate those special years spent in Trinity College.  And as former classmates re-ignited old friendships and struck up new ones the years just rolled away. 

For one night only it was a privilege to be back in Trinity College, with the elegant surroundings of the Dining Hall lending a regal sophistication to the occasion. It was an even bigger privilege to be able to meet once again all the fantastic people we shared our lectures and our lives with for those four short but life affirming years.  

The night itself was a real trip down memory lane with a photo-slide show, from the 80’s making us laugh and cringe in equal measure.  Lecturer, Dr Gerard McHugh M.A. (j.o.) (1990), in his welcoming speech brought us up-to-date with how much college life has changed since the days of dodgy perms and shoulder pads.

One night was not enough to fill in all the gaps over the last 20 years so the wheels are now in motion to ensure regular hook-ups and many more reunions!

Sharon Cooney B.B.S. (1989)

For medical alumni stories please see: www.medicine.tcd.ie/tercentenary/alumni/

Obituaries

Philip Crampton Smyly M.B., M.A. (1939)
Clarissa Crawford Pilkington M.A. (1945)
Andrew Grene M.Phil. (1990)
Gus MacAmhlaigh  M.A. (1972)
Eithne McGuinness M.Phil. (2006)
Siobhan Miley B.A. (1989)
Janet Toal M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O. (1996)

Philip Crampton Smyly M.B., M.A. (1939)

Philip Crampton Smyly, who has died aged 92, was an influential figure in the Maritime Institute of Ireland and its National Maritime Museum following a successful career in medicine.

At an early age, he was sent, along with his brother Bill, to live with his aunt in Delgany, Co Wicklow. His stay in Ireland was interrupted in 1922 by evacuation to England due to the political situation in Ireland.

He was sent to school in England after which he returned to Ireland and studied medicine at Trinity College, Dublin, and his stories on his training experiences followed by internships in Baggot Street and Stevens Hospital would compete with any comedy incidents in Carry on Doctor.

During these years, he rowed for Trinity in junior and senior eights and was on the team which won the National Senior Championships. Some 60 years later when Trinity again won the senior championship, Dr Smyly and fellow surviving team mate, Dr Raymond Rees, were guests of honour at the official celebrations. (The boat he used is among the huge collection of artefacts at the National Maritime Museum in the Mariners Church, Dún Laoghaire.)

In 1941, Smyly set up a medical practice in Portarlington, Co Laois, and the following year married Mary Hildick. While in Portarlington he also became involved in organising concerts, socials, rowing and all types of community events. He was a founding member of the Portarlington Rifle Club, and regularly travelled North for competitions.

After retirement they moved to Sandymount, in Dublin where he used his retirement years to pursue his interests. These included musical boxes, bonsai cultivation, the Irish Horticultural Society, the Dublin Horse Show, and painting, at which he competed with his wife. He also was a trustee of The Smyly Homes charity, founded by an ancestor, Ellen Smyly.

His latter years were steeped in the Maritime Institute of Ireland and in particular the Institute’s National Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire. In the late 1990s when moves were afoot to move the museum to Dublin’s Docklands, Smyly was among the many who actively opposed this. He was one of the four delegates sent from a well attended protest meeting to meet then minister for culture Síle de Valera. After a study conducted personally by Smyly proved the proposed location was less accessible to the public and tourists than Dún Laoghaire, the proposal was dropped.

Predeceased by his wife in 2004, Smyly’s funeral took place on 21 January in the Pepper Canister church – St Stephen’s – on Mount Street in Dublin.

Clarissa Crawford Pilkington M.A. (1945)

Members of DUWCC and DUCC, past and present will be saddened to hear of the death of Clarissa Pilkington. She passed away 6 February after a short illness. For those of you who did not know Clarissa Pilkington, she was a, if not, the driving force in Women' Cricket in Ireland. She was a founder member of Dublin University Women's Cricket Club in 1946. In 2006, Clarissa was honoured by DUCAC, where along with fellow former cricketers, she celebrated 60 years of women's cricket in Trinity. She was also a founding member of the Irish Women's Cricket Union in 1982. As recently as 2007, she was presented at Lord's with an ICC Lifetime Service 2006 award, a testament to her tireless work with Irish Cricket. 

I am not the best authority on Clarissa's involvement in Trinity nor her influence in the wider context of Irish Women's Cricket but I do remember meeting her on numerous occasions and hearing her speak at the service celebrating women in sport. She spoke of her involvement in numerous clubs (even boxing!) and of her time as a warden in Trinity Hall. Clarissa's memories of her tenure in Trinity Hall from 1947-1957 were recorded in the 2004 publication A Danger To The Men? A History of Women in Trinity College Dublin 1904-2004. I also recall hearing anecdotes of her playing cricket well into her seventies with Phoenix, much to the worry of her late husband, Dicky Pilkington! I'm sure many of our past members, especially those who were involved in the Irish set up will have further insight into Clarissa's history as a player, friend, coach, committee member, president, pioneer, volunteer.

She was without doubt an impressive and inspirational lady and it was fitting that her service took place in Trinity Hall, Dartry, 14 February. She had donated her body to medical science so a humanist ceremony was held where people paid their respects to her family and spoke fondly of Mrs. Pilkington. Clairssa’s ceaseless contribution to every aspect of the community was represented: Women’s’ Cricket, DU Women’s Graduate Association, TRR Hockey Club, Kilternan Country Market. All spoke touchingly, whether in own words or by reciting poetry, in honour of Clarissa.

At the entrance of the packed hall was the photo frame presented by her friends at DUCAC‘s 2006 celebration. DUWCC are now hoping to place a bench in College Park in memory of Clarissa Crawford Pilkington. We would like to invite anyone who wishes to contribute to this project. E: alumni.relations@tcd.ie.

Andrew Grene M.Phil. (1990)

Andrew Grene (44), an Irish citizen working as a senior United Nations official in Haiti was among those who died following last month’s earthquake. Mr Grene, who was born in Chicago, spent his childhood summers living on a farm in Derrycark, near Belturbet in Cavan. While in Belturbet he attended Fairgreen school. He went on to the University of Chicago and earned an M.Phil. from Trinity College Dublin and studied at Medill School of Journalism. Mr Grene is survived by his wife Jennifer, who is from Belfast, and their three children Patrick (20), Alex (19) and Rosamund (14).

Gus MacAmhlaigh  M.A. (1972)

Gus was born in September 1942, the eldest of seven children, and brought up in Termonfeckin County Louth. He attended school in Belfast and, after a short period in the Christian Brothers, went to England where he worked for the National Coal Board. While in England he met his wife Valerie. He returned to Ireland in 1968 to study Economics at Trinity College Dublin.

Gus had a central role in the redevelopment of the early phases of the Dublin docklands becoming in 1987 the first secretary of the newly formed Custom House Development Authority, a forerunner of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA).

He and his chairman, the late Frank Benson, were key figures in formulating the first master plan for the docklands which concentrated mainly on the IFSC. He later served as general manager of the newly formed DDDA which has been responsible for the largest ever regeneration scheme in the history of the State.

More than 21,000 people are now employed in the docklands and a further 22,000 live in the area. Gus left the DDDA in 1998 to become CEO of the Irish Pension Unit Trust (IPUT), one of the largest property funds in the country. He remained in that post for almost a decade during which the property market experienced exceptional growth in both rents and capital values.

After retiring in 2007 he joined his good friend Joe Bannon on the board of directors of commercial estate agents Bannon Commercial.

Gus had a wide intellectual curiosity and was a fascinating conversationalist on almost any topic. He was a great collector, even in the early days when his means were small. He collected books in the Irish language; initially because they were cheap, but went on to collect many rare and valuable works. He was particularly proud when his son Liam published a History of Irish Dictionaries in 2008, largely drawing on Gus' collection. His other great collecting interests were editions of the works of Flann O'Brien, and books about County Louth. Collecting was a great comfort to him during the long illness of Valerie who died six years ago.

Gus was a quietly devout man and a great supporter of his local church in Mount Merrion. There was a large attendance at his funeral service, representing his many interests. He is survived by his two sons Liam and Domhnall, his partner Linda and his brothers and sisters. He was buried in his native Termonfeckin.

Eithne McGuinness M.Phil. (2006)

Eithne McGuinness has died in Dublin after the sudden onset of cancer.

A great-granddaughter of poet, playwright and revolutionary Tom MacDonagh and cultural nationalist Muriel Gifford, Eithne was a fluent Irish speaker. She initially worked in hotel management in Ireland and in the US, where she lived for 10 years. Shortly after coming home in the 1990s, she left this secure career-path for the more precarious life of a full-time actor and writer.

Never one to sit in a corner and complain about a lack of good roles for women, Eithne soon began to write her own. One of her earliest pieces was The Queen of Sheba (1996). It was a role she delighted in, portraying a character who asserts a flamboyant sense of self-worth against the world's expectations and lives on her own terms - as Eithne herself did.

Her best-known play was Typhoid Mary, first produced at the Dublin Fringe Festival in 1997 and later adapted for RTÉ radio. The story raised the difficult social issues which Eithne never shied away from: with Typhoid Mary , she tackled race, class and immigration; with Limbo (2000, 2001), she asked similar questions through a story set in an Irish dole office at the peak of the Celtic Tiger boom; in A Glorious Day (given rehearsed readings at the Peacock and in the IFI, 1999), she portrayed her formidable ancestors, the Gifford sisters, as they immersed themselves in nationalist and feminist politics during the early years of the 20th century.

Many will remember Eithne for her work with the Dublin Writers' Festival (2004-2008), as well as for the many community projects she facilitated. In 2005 she received Dublin City Council's first public art commission for a playwright and worked with community groups in Poplar Row, Ballybough. With David Kelly she ran drama workshops filmed by Brid McCarthy, which explored the history of the area; her commission resulted in a rehearsed reading of a new play Tin Cans.

Eithne was a regular artist with Dublin City Council's area-based arts service, working with Artane Active Retirement Group, Klear Adult Education Programme (Kilbarrack) and Lourdes Day Care Centre. Her creative and professional approach, tempered by a wicked sense of humour, endeared her to everyone she worked with.

In 2005, she graduated with distinction from the M.Phil. Creative Writing programme at Trinity College. Miss Delicious, a play about sexual abuse which she began writing while at Trinity, was later workshopped in the Abbey Theatre. Plans for a production were interrupted by her illness, as was an international tour of Typhoid Mary. A popular resident at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre and at the Blue Mountain Centre in New York, she had recently been awarded a residency at the McDowell artists' colony in New Hampshire. Her illness prevented her from going.

Eithne is survived by her parents, Kevin and Iseult, her sisters Maura and Niamh, her brothers Barry and Dermot, her nieces and nephews and many friends.

Siobhan Miley B.A. (1989)

By the time Siobhan Miley studied drama and classics at Trinity College Dublin in the mid-1980s, she had acted with the Dublin Youth Theatre and in a Project Theatre production of The Mask. She imparted an interest in mime to her peers. A young woman set to make her own the roles of Pegeen Mike in The Playboy of the Western World (Abbey), Mary Warren in The Crucible (Abbey) and Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband (the Gate), she was one of the bright stars of college.

Off-stage, Siobhán carried the gift of being funny. Away from the roles of great dramatists, she made you laugh. There was nothing remote or "theatrical" about her: the natural brilliance of her non-showy, intense acting was manifest in her friendship. Her intimate dialogue with the live audience was only eclipsed by her intimate bonds with family and friends.
Living in Stoneybatter and Great Western Square, she'd frequent the Stag's Head and the Palace, her acting career taking off in the city's two main theatres, as well as on television with Ballykissangel, Lovejoy and Fair City (she was the sinister nanny). She played in Diary of a Madman and was offered a role on Broadway which, owing to the weight of requisite red tape, she ultimately had to decline.

But the fine sensitivity of Siobhán's humane radar exposed her to an anxiety which became increasingly chronic. It took the form of stage fright - a sudden awareness of the self as distinct from the role being played - and this curse eventually made acting impossible.

In her apartment in Milltown, she took to writing scripts for Fair City, impressing with her subtle understanding of story and acting. Working against anxiety and agoraphobia, she delivered excellent scripts. Her recent work included a television script, No Place Like Home, and a stage play for Fishamble .

Siobhán died tragically on 5 February 2010. As her coffin was carried from a full house, she got a final standing ovation. Exit. Stage left. She is survived by her mother Ida, brother Liam, and sisters Marie, Freda, Catherine, Margaret and Anne.

Janet Toal M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O. (1996)

Dr. Janet Toal died in August 2009.

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