2011 Summer E-zine

What's New?	Events	News	Branch Updates	Alumni Interview	Notices	Obituaries

What's New?

Farewell from Provost Hegarty
Over the 10 years of my term as Provost, one of the great pleasures of the job has been meeting graduates of all disciplines, both at home in Ireland and abroad. I have been particularly impressed by how well our alumni travel and how greatly appreciated you are in your chosen fields. You are wonderful ambassadors of this great University and bring honour to the institution. Equally I have always been impressed by the strong affection in which you hold your alma mater and the strong bonds of friendship that you maintain from your student days.

I would like to thank you for your support during my provostship in my mission to help shape a better future for Ireland and the world through outstanding education and research programmes.

I will carry great memories with me into the next chapter of my life and perhaps our paths shall cross again. In the meantime, I would encourage you to stay connected with Trinity and I am sure you will extend the same courtesy and support to my successor, Patrick Prendergast.

With warmest good wishes,
John Hegarty
43rd Provost

Taoiseach opens new Biomedical Sciences Facility
Last month the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny opened the Biomedical Sciences Institute, the University’s most ambitious capital project to date. The state of the art facility will house researchers from the Schools of Medicine, Biochemistry & Immunology, Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry and Engineering. More...

Royal visits to Trinity
It’s been a busy few months on campus and we’ve had some famous visitors pass through (and by) our gates. In May the Queen spent time visiting the book of Kells just a month after Prince Albert of Monaco did the same. While we don’t have a big photo gallery of all our visitors, we do keep our Facebook page current so become a fan for regular updates.

Pimms in the Pav
Our latest social night was a huge success raising almost €3,000 for the Trinity Alumni Appeal - thanks to all those who came along on the night. View a selection of photos from the event or check out our most recent video on YouTube.

Tweet Tweet
We’re now on Twitter, bear with us while we get the hang of it. We look forward to keeping you up to date with news on the College and our alumni. Follow TCD Alumni on Twitter.

Trinity Climbs the Rankings
The QS World University rankings have been released and Trinity has received a number of accolades with the School of Maths, Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Chemistry and Physics featuring in the top 100 in the world.

Update Your Details
We’re busy pulling together Trinity Today, the annual alumni magazine, if you would like to be featured in our class notes section drop us a line or update your details to make sure you receive your copy.

 

Events

TCD Alumni Weekend 2011
The TCD Alumni Weekend is almost upon us (taking place from 26-28 August 2011). Places are filling up quickly so book now to avoid disappointment! Book your place today or find out more online.

Elements @ Science Gallery
‘Elements – The Beauty of Chemistry’ invites you to see Science Gallery’s latest exhibition go off with a bang as we explore the beauty of elements, the design icon that is the periodic table and stir up some reactions in the atomic kitchen. More...

Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet and Doctor Merryman Exhibition
To mark the School of Medicine Tercentenary a new exhibition has opened in the library. ‘The best doctors in the world are Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, and Doctor Merryman’, an exhibition based on the famous Jonathan Swift quote will run in the library from May until 2 October 2011. Watch the video of the opening on YouTube.

Annual Ranji Trophy Cricket Match
The 3rd Annual Ranji Trophy Ireland takes place in College Park, Trinity College Dublin on Sunday, 7 August at 1pm – all are welcome! The Ranji Trophy Ireland is a focal point of the Trinity South Asia Initiative: a programme dedicated to the renewal and development of relationships with India and other countries in South Asia and with fostering links between TCD and the South Asian communities resident in Ireland.

Steam Train Trip to Mullingar
As part of the School of Medicine Tercentenary celebrations a steam train trip from Pearse Station to Mullingar, Co Westmeath (including a bus transfer to Belvedere House for lunch and/or golf outing) will take place on Sunday, 28 August. For more details please contact Ciara on +353 (0)1 896 1379. Tickets cost €60 per person or €20 for children.

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

News

Campus News

Sports News

Campus News

Trinity Lecturer Provides Taoiseach’s Gift for President Obama

Clinical Trials for New Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Awarded €6 Million Funding

Results from TILDA Study of 8,000 Older People Launched

Trinity Researchers Trace the Ancestry of Polar Bears to Ireland

Provost John Hegarty awards his last Honorary Degrees

Sports News

Munster Rugby Charity Cycle for TCD Motor Neurone Research

Dublin University Harriers and Athletics Club Launch Hall of Fame

DU Fencing Club Reunion
The Dublin University Fencing Club are planning a reunion in the Autumn to honour a former Club President. All former club members from the 1980’s are invited, a date has yet to be set but to register your interest please contact Brid for more details.

Honorary Degree Awarded to Squash Player
World-renowned squash player, Jonah Barrington was conferred with an Honorary Degree on Friday, 1 July. More...   

 

Branch Updates

Switzerland – Dinner & AGM – 12 August
Martin Burke, Ambassador of Ireland will be the guest of honour at an informal dinner and brief AGM in Bern on Friday, 12 August. We look forward to welcoming as many members as possible. Please confirm attendance with Malcolm Ferguson by 1 August or view the invitation.

County Wicklow/South Dublin – Autumn Outings
The branch plans to visit a “Hidden Gem of South Dublin” in early September for a guided tour of the historic church and graveyard of St. Nahi in Dundrum. The church has an excellent collection of stained glass and tapestries and the font in which the Duke of Wellington was baptised. As usual, the tour will be followed by tea and scones in the nearby Taney Parish Centre. Also planned at the end of September, is a supper and an evening to evoke favourite memories of work by Irish poets and authors. Members will introduce and recite their favourite piece of poetry or read prose in the Glenview Hotel. The branch also has plans for a formal dinner this year which will be in the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire in early November. For more details contact Eamonn Darcy.

East Midlands – Annual Lunch – 13 November
The Annual Brendan Magill Memorial Meeting will take place on Sunday, 13 November at the Burleigh Court Hotel on the campus of Loughborough University. Lunch is at 12pm for 12.30. The guest speaker will be John West, former Kings Hospital Schoolmaster and International Rugby Referee. Anyone interested in attending should contact Rosemary May or on phone 01509 890606.

US - Event Round Up
Irish Ambassador to the United States, Michael Collins, and his wife Marie hosted a large gathering of Trinity alumni in their home in Washington DC on Monday 6 June. Graduates from Philadelphia, Maryland, Virginia and the DC area joined the ambassador in congratulating Provost Hegarty on the successes of his 10 years in office. The Provost outlined highlights of his tenure such as the creation of Science Gallery; Biomedical Sciences Institute and the Creative Arts, Technologies and Culture initiative. He introduced his successor Provost-elect Prof Patrick Prendergast wishing him well and hoping he would enjoy the same alumni support that he received throughout his Provostship. 

The 17th annual New York Trinity Ball was held at the beautiful Loeb Boathouse in Central Park on Wednesday, 8 June. Record breaking high temperatures did not deter over 120 alumni and friends from enjoying cocktails on the terrace followed by dinner and dancing. Many thanks to the Committee of the Greater NYC Alumni branch who made the evening such a wonderful success. View photos on the TCD Alumni NYC website. 

The Provost rounded off the week in Boston with a farewell supper in the Algonquin Club hosted by alumni from the Massachusetts area. He reminisced about alumni events he had attended over the past 10 years and thanked the graduates present for their ongoing support for the College. All branches welcome new members. 

Oxfordshire – Update

The Oxfordshire Association held its annual lunch on 11 June in the Dining Hall of Trinity College Oxford. Local members were joined by members from London, Gloucester and North West Associations. Also amongst the 54 in attendance were a number of recent graduates, a most gratifying and encouraging presence. After a superb meal 36 members joined a tour of college chapels led by two professional guides, the special feature being the 17th century painted glass windows by the van Linge brothers. Fortunately the weather again favoured us, contributing to a most enjoyable day. The committee hope to arrange another event for late September. 

County Wicklow/South Dublin – Update
Our branch continues to live up to its record of being sociable and active with a welcoming attitude to new members. We are always on the lookout for new ideas and members. Our aims of sociability and fund-raising for worthy TCD programmes have been well blended together this year. A bequest that the Branch received from the late Fred O’Connell has been donated, in consultation with his widow Nan, to the TCD Library and rare books have been bought and inscribed.

A very successful Garden Party was held in the house and gardens of Shane Ross TD and his wife, Ruth Buchanan. 75 people attended on a fine day, and a total of about €1000 was raised for the Trinity Access Programmes (TAP). Other enjoyable events included our musical evening in the Glenview Hotel and our visit to the Tutankhamun exhibition in the RDS in Dublin.

Kildare & West Wicklow - Update
A well-attended 15th AGM was held on 10 March and the outgoing branch officers were returned unopposed as the new 2011 committee, namely June A Stuart M.A. (1966) as chairman, Michael J R Higgins M.A. (1965) as treasurer, and Michael J C McCann M.A. (1976) as secretary.

The AGM agreed that the treasurer forward a cheque of €1,000 to Senior Tutor as a bursary for a needy TCD undergraduate with a home address in either Kildare or West Wicklow. The AGM was followed by a fireside address given by TCD Senator David Norris. Alumni are invited to subscribe to our branch mailing list for updates.

New South Wales – Update
The first event of the 2011 calendar was held on 26 May. This marked the first joint alumni event arranged by the TCD NSW branch inviting the alumni from the Cambridge and Oxford Societies. The event was both sponsored and hosted by Baker McKenzie Law Firm in Sydney with the assistance of Dayan Goodsir-Cullen and Dylan Carroll. Over 100 alumni across the three universities attended on the evening to regale and imbibe, all agreeing it was a resounding success. For news of future events join the TCD Alumni NSW distribution list.

North West England - Update
The main event of the year for the TCD alumni association in the North West of England is the annual dinner which was first established in 1893. We were delighted to welcome Jennifer Taaffe, Alumni Director, as our principal guest at the dinner in May 2011 held at Lancashire County Cricket Club. Jennifer was able to inform us with the latest news from College on events activities and innovations and especially the tercentenary celebrations scheduled this year for the Biomedical Sciences but we were also very pleased to note that she is well versed about the life times and exploits of undergraduates who benefited from the tutelage of the Junior Dean Dr R B McDowell.

We are always very pleased to welcome new members to the association and are particularly keen to encourage suggestions for events and networking activities that may be of interest to more recent graduates, please contact Martin Byrne for more details. 

 

Ontario - Update

Attendance at joint university events continues to increase with our participation in the International University Clubs of Toronto. The number of alumni in Ontario has increased in recent years to over 300 and, thanks to information from the Alumni Office, those with e-mail addresses have been added to our list. Alumni are encouraged to contact John Payne or visit the website for more details. 

 

 

For a full schedule of TCD events visit www.tcd.ie/alumni/events   

 

Alumni Interview

Philip Flynn M.Sc. (Mgmt.), (1988)

Name: Philip Flynn
Degree: Master in Management

What are you doing with yourself these days? 
Currently I’m CEO of the Digital Hub Development Agency and also a non-executive director of IMRO (Irish Music Rights Organisation) & Dublin Simon Community. 

Why did you choose your current career? 
I started out in finance and management accounting mainly chosen because I found it easy working with numbers and I had grown up in a family retail environment. I became Controller for Ireland’s leading Joinery Manufacturer and learned a lot about managing with restricted working capital – I was also involved in a putative MBO but that’s a longer story for another day. 

Outside the day job, I was also involved in music and entrepreneuring which turned out to have a greater influence on my subsequent career. I co-founded and organised a folk festival in Ballisodare which actually became the day job for a spell – it ran for 6 years and attracted 20,000 people at its peak. Through that, I was effectively learning management by doing with a fair bit of trial and error. I became influenced by the writings of Peter Drucker and ‘In Search of Excellence’ and decided to focus my personal development on Management as a profession. The M.Sc. (Mgmt.) offered by IMI/Trinity at the time was a definitive career intervention which provided a successful transition for me into multinational management within the computer industry. It worked particularly well for me personally at that time. 

With regard to my current job, after a subsequently long and enjoyable international career with computer multinationals DEC (now HP), Visio (now Microsoft) & Orbiscom (now MasterCard), I was attracted to the Digital Hub as a visionary government investment to accelerate the development of a new digital media/internet sector, promote digital skills in Learning and in the Arts while at the same time stimulating the regeneration of the Liberties and bringing new learning and earning opportunities to the local community of D8. 

How do you like to spend your free time? 
Family, friends and music. I have family and friends in both Dublin and Sligo and I spend a fair bit of time in the west. Music is a big passion of mine. I play guitar and bouzouki and pretty much enjoy everything that surrounds good music in all genres - playing, listening to and reading about both historic and current developments in music. Beyond music, I also read very widely and usually have a few books going at any one time. 

What are your strongest memories of Trinity? 
I came to Trinity through the post grad route via the M.Sc. (Mgmt) so my strongest memory is the graduation which is still a very special memory. I was able to enjoy that ceremony all over again recently with my wife who after we came back from our international travels did a primary degree in the History of Art and Architecture followed by an M.Phil. in Creative Writing, both in TCD. 

Are you still in touch with other alumni? 
Yes quite a few through the TBA - Trinity Business Alumni – and just generally through my various interests. I have always found there to be quite a special connection among Trinity graduates. 

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? 
Definitely in my ‘third age’ or maybe in my case it’ll actually be my fifth career: Construction, Music, Computers, Public Sector, ?... My plan would be to move to more of a portfolio of projects approach, with a number of these related to music and the arts in general which I really see developing significantly. I believe passionately in the power of the internet as both a major cultural phenomenon and an economic engine which presents enormous opportunity for Ireland's culture and arts to reach a global audience and Irish business to capture global markets. 

Have you any advice for students or fellow alumni? 
I am genuinely excited and optimistic about the opportunities and prospects for the future, beyond the current crisis. The world is so dynamic now that most of the jobs in the future haven’t yet even been conceived and the practice of jobs which continue to exist will undergo profound change. If you’ve got a good foundation in education and capability – which really has to encompass both science and arts and has to address both individual and collaborative skills - and view that as a lifelong development path, then if you bring energy, flexibility and a personal integrity to what you do your future will present lots of opportunities. Also keep developing your digital media skills. 
Oh and don’t forget to wear sunscreen.

Notices

Class of ’61 Off Campus Reunion School of Engineering Newsletter 8th International Cancer Conference TCD's Science Gallery Goes to New York with BIORHYTHM

Class Notes Sharon O'Toole Ph.D. (2003) Susan Heard B.Sc. (2006) Hamish Riley-Smith B.A. (1963) Carole Gudmundseth B.A. (1971) John Higginson M.D., F.R.C.P., (1945)

Class of ’61 Off Campus Reunion
The 1961 graduate Zoologists, Botanists, Geologists, Geographers, and colleagues who migrated to Bacteriology and Genetics, are holding a 50th anniversary dinner event in the Kildare Street and University Club, on 28 August 2011, courtesy of Shane Ross, TD. In the preceding afternoon they plan to visit round the various departmental buildings on Campus (TBC). Up to press, more than 60 have enrolled, including marriers-in, and guest staff and technician friends from those great days. We are garnering relevant historical images, biography and reminiscences from fellow septuagenarians all over the known universe. For more details contact David Griffith, Claire Chambers or Peter Norton.

School of Engineering Newsletter
The School of Engineering has produced its first Alumni Newsletter. The bi-annual newsletter will be emailed to graduates with a round-up of news and stories from the School. To make sure you receive your copy update your email with us.

8th International Cancer Conference
The Conference on the theme “State of the Art Cancer Care” will be the first major international meeting to be held in the new Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute which opened in mid 2011. It is held in celebration of 300 years of medicine at TCD.

TCD's Science Gallery Goes to New York with BIORHYTHM
Why does a minor chord sound sad? Is there a formula for the perfect hit? Whistling, dancing, finger-snapping, and toe-tapping — what makes us do it? Find out as Science Gallery's 2010 hit exhibition BIORHYTHM makes its US debut at the World Science Festival at Eyebeam Art + Technology Center from 2 June – 6 August 2011. Created by Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin, BIORHYTHM is presented in collaboration with the World Science Festival, Eyebeam Art + Technology Center, Imagine Ireland and the Cordover Family Foundation. Eyebeam, 540 W 21st St. New York, NY 10011.

Class Notes

Sharon O'Toole Ph.D. (2003)
The Emer Casey foundation was established in memory of 28 year old Emer who died from ovarian cancer. The foundation is currently supporting three Emer Casey Ph.D. fellows in Trinity College Dublin. The fellows are working with the DISCOVARY consortium to improve the diagnosis and management of ovarian cancer. A team of cyclists from Youghal in Co. Cork are cycling across America to raise funds for the foundation. Your support would be appreciated, find out more.

Susan Heard B.Sc. (2006)
Susan has just got married and is still living around the Greater London area.

Hamish Riley-Smith B.A. (1963)
Hamish has written reminiscences about his time at Trinity between 1959 and 1963 in reaction to a recent publication about Trinity in the 1960’s. If you are interested in reading about these please contact Hamish via email.
 
Carole (nee Carlile) Gudmundseth B.A. (1971)
Carole Gudmundseth (General Studies) '71 has lived in Vancouver, B.C since leaving Trinity but will be in Dublin on the Reunion w/e and is looking forward to seeing some TCD friends again. Contact Carole. 

John Higginson M.D., F.R.C.P., (1945)
John graduated from TCD Medical School in 1945 with a B.A., M.D. He went to the Western Infirmary in Glasgow where he specialized in Pathology. He got his MRCP in London in 1949. He married in November that same year and then left in December for Johannesburg, South Africa where he was on staff at the South African Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR). Whilst at SAIMR, he also worked as a pathologist at Baragawanath Hospital, a 2000 bed hospital serving the African population. John had developed an interest in environmental pathology and began to specifically conduct research into the epidemiology of cancer during this time. He conducted studies extensively throughout South Africa. Having begun to develop an international reputation in cancer research, after 8 fulfilling years at SAIMR, John elected to take a position in pathology at the University of Kansas Medical Centre in Kansas City.

During his 8 years at the University of Kansas Medical Centre, he steadily built a national and international reputation in his field and a Chair in Geographical Pathology was established for him at the medical centre. In 1966 he was offered the job of founding Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France. During his 16 year tenure as Director, the agency established its reputation as a world-renowned Centre for cancer research, which continues to this day. From Lyon he moved to a post In Washington D.C. joining the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) and from there joined the faculty of Georgetown University. He worked as a consultant in the field of cancer research while in Washington. After retiring in 1997 from Georgetown, he moved to Savannah, Georgia where he continued to consult for a few more years. He will be 89 in October of this year and until his stroke remained an avid golf player and painter.

Would you like to share your news with fellow alumni?
Reach out to old classmates by submitting your news to Class Notes or read about fellow alumni on Front Gate Online.

 

Obituaries

Brian Lenihan B.A., Barrister-at-law (1981)

Hyman Tarlo LL.B, M.A. (1943)
Hyman Tarlo was born on 21 September 1921 in West Kirby, Lancashire, where his mother had gone to escape the rebellion going on in Ireland.  He was brought back to the family home in Dublin when he was six weeks old and lived in that city until he was 35.  He attended Wesley College, then Stephen's Green, and won a Junior Exhibition to enter Trinity to study law.  He was an outstanding student, becoming a Scholar in 1942 and graduated with honours in 1944.  As Auditor of the Law School Students' Society, he gave his inaugural address on the jury system entitled "12 Men in a Box". Hyman won a Carnegie Travelling Scholarship for the U.S in 1963.

Hyman practised as a solicitor for about 10 years, after passing the solicitors' and Irish language exams with flying colours.  As a part-time lecturer to other budding solicitors, he became interested in an academic career, and applied for posts in Australia.  He was appointed a senior lecturer at the Australian National University in Canberra, later became a Reader and in 1966 was appointed to a Chair in the University of Queensland.  Property Law, Equity and Family Law were his specialities, on which he wrote many articles.  He also was an early teacher of Environmental Law.  He was Dean of the Law Faculty for some years, was President of the Australasian Union of Law Teachers, and was on the executive of the Commonwealth Law Teachers Association. Politics were a lifetime interest, and he was an active member of the Jewish community.

Hyman retired in 1966 and for some years used his skills in a large investment and share broking firm in Brisbane.  With his wife Ruth, he moved to Sydney in 2007 to be near some of their family.  He died peacefully on 14 April, aged 89.  He is survived by Ruth, 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

 

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