GRADUATINGGRADUATING CLASSCLASS OFOF 20092009

Some of the Electronics Students at Saturdays Conferring ceremony

Xusen Sacid with his family after graduating with Honours in Engineering L7 Computing: Philip Roe, Steven McCutcheon and John McCaul

Send us your graduation photos including the names of those pictured and course of study and we’ll print them in next weeks issue - [email protected] JohnJohn KeaneKeane RetiresRetires

Aidan Heffernan, Mary Heffernan and John Keane

John Keane retired on 30 September after 39 years of service in the college. The department were joined by colleagues and friends from all over the college to celebrate John’s contribution at the Fairways on 28 October. Fitting tributes were paid by Seamus Kelly, Bob McKiernan and Denis Cummins. John was generously thanked for his service and innovation. The interests of students and staff were always to the fore front. John thanked Seamus Kelly for organising the event and he thanked those with whom he worked throughout his time. He urged everyone pre- sent to look after the college and students.

In the very early days, the development of computing started over in electronics. Both John and Jim in Electronics were pioneering the PDP8 mentioned here previously. In the Comput- ing area, the trio of John Keane, Ann Commins and Seamus Kelly are remembered as the early teachers. John taught BASIC in the early courses from which computing courses in the College developed. In 1977 the first computing course was started in the college.

A one-year cert was run initially but soon it got changed into a two year National Certificate. John also served as Head of Department. Many of John’s past pupils are now on the college staff both in Computing and beyond. John also made a significant contribution in the area of Mathematics and Applied Maths where he helped many students with the latter subject. Bob concluded his few words by recalling that John’s father, also John Keane (Centre back, Waterford and Mount Sion) was one of the Millennium hurling team, he was part of the Waterford historic win in 1948 and he brought the county to the promised land in 1959. Bob also mentioned that John was one of the first fifteen on the college staff. He hoped that he would soon see his beloved Waterford win the hurling final.

Next week ‘The Retiring of Marie Magee’ (McCallion) Above: John Keane, Liam Grimes and Jim Maguire with the PDP8

Pictured Right: The Millennium Hurling Team that included John Keane who was an All-Ireland medal winner in 1948.

DkIT Welcomes Development Volunteers from Tanzania

DkIT had the pleasure of welcoming some very special guests last week when a group of development volunteers from Tanzania visited the college. The group were in Ireland at the invitation of lecturer Bobby McCormack who invited them to take part in some of his classes and meet some Irish students.

As well as lecturing in DkIT in Global Development, Bobby is also co- founder and director of local NGO Development Perspectives , which he runs with his partner Margaret Downey from their office in Drogheda. The organisation specialises in development education and this year they took two groups from Ireland to work with their Tanzanian partner, NGO Uvikiuta . The volunteers from both organisations lived and worked together for three weeks in order to learn more about each others cultures and explore development issues such as land privitisation, water shortage, climate change, poverty, conflict and the stigma around HIV Aids. The work camps involved the renovation of a maternity ward in the village of Mwika at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro and the building of a school room in the town of Mwanga.

Dorothy Tooman For the final few days of the programme the groups stayed with a Maasai tribe in the vast savannah lands north of Arusha, an experience that had a powerful effect on the participants who were welcomed warmly by the Maasai. One of the group that travelled to Ireland this week is a teacher from the tribe and she had the opportunity to visit the Presentation primary school in Drogheda.

The culmination of the 2009 Development Perspectives programme and the main reason for the Tanzanian groups visit to Ireland, was an exhibition in the Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda last Thursday night. It was attended by DkIT Director Denis Cummins, Head of the School of Humanities Cathal Kearney and Head of Strategy & Organisational Development Ann Cleary . The programme is supported by Trocaire, Irish Aid, Youth Work Ireland and the FAI and they also had representatives in attendance. The exhibition included a key note speech by Dorothy Toomann from Development Education Network - Liberia (DEN-L) , photographs from the overseas phase of the programme, wonderful music and singing from both the Irish and the Tanzanian participants and a quiz hosted by Bobby that served to highlight inequality and the unfair distribution of aid.

If you would like to find out more about development perspectives you can visit their website at www.developmentperspectives.ie . Visit of Lesotho Ambassador to DKIT

Dundalk Institute of Technology hosted the visit of H.E. Mannete M. Ramaili, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho on Friday last 23rd October.

Dundalk Institute of Technology hosted the visit of H.E. Mannete M. Ramaili, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho on Friday last 23rd October. During her visit Ambassador Ramaili held discussions with DkIT President, Denis Cummins, senior staff and members of the Centre for Renewable Energy (CREDIT) and the National Centre for Freshwater Studies (NCFS). The Ambassador was briefed on the Irish Aid project ‘Water Is Life: Amazzi Bulamu’ led by DkIT with other Irish Universities and the University of Makefere as partners. It was felt that the learning from this project could also be applied to Lesotho. It was also felt that DkIT’s expertise in Wind Energy could inform policy in Lesotho as the country is mountainous and has great potential to harness wind energy.

During her visit Ambassador Ramaili also toured the campus of DkIT.

Fr Dermod McCarthy, RTE, Dr Eibhlís Farrell, Head of Music and Creative Media, Ms Adele Commins, Head of Music Programmes, Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Mr Denis Cummins, President DkIT, Mr Sofian A. Karim, First Secretary Embassy of Malaysia, Dr Gerard Bob McKiernan, Head of School of Informatics, Music and Creative Media pictured with some of the cast members of Ó Riada sa Gaiety.

Ó Riada sa Gaiety: 40 Bliain

The 40th anniversary of the historic Ó Riada sa Gaiety concert was recently marked by DkIT music students with a tribute performance in the Black Box Theatre. The original concert, which was initiated and championed by Maire Bean Uí Ghogáin and members of Eigse Oirialla on the occasion of the Peadar Ó Doirnín Bicentenary in 1969 was destined to change forever the perception of Irish music across the globe and became the forerunner to the formation of the Chieftans and other great Irish groups. Bean Uí Ghogáin was one of the special guests, along with her son Liam, Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Mr Sofian A. Karim, First Secretary Embassy of Malaysia and Mrs Arni Abdul Jamal, Antoine Ó Coileáin, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Gael-Linn and An tAthair Dermod Mac Carthaigh, RTE. The delighted audience rose to give the young performers a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the evening.

Music Theatre students Dermot ‘Bam’ OConnor and David Lynn starred in the roles of Ó Doirnín and Sean Ó Sé, while Breifne Holohan, a fourth year Composition student played the role of Sean Ó Riada, introducing the new Ceol Oirghíalla harpsichord to the public for the first time.

The music of Ceoltoirí Chualann was performed by Ceol Oirghialla Traditional Music Ensemble, directed by Gerry O’Connor(fiddle) and Paul McGettrick (flute). Research student from Newry, Tommy Fegan (uillean pipes) played the role of Paddy Maloney. First year students Sinead O’Malley of Roscommon (flute) and Aine Murphy of Tyrone (feadóg) excelled in their first major performance at DkIT. They were joined by second year fiddle player Deirdre Eakins and Anna Mary Doherty, and Cavan man Kevin O’Donnell on bodhrán. Final year student Trudy Maguire gave an excellent performance on the ‘bosca ceoil’. Deirdre, who showed her talents as a dancer was joined by lightfooted Dublin student Dearbhail Downey.

Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Denis Third Year student Dermot O'Connor as Peadar Ó Doirnín

Helen Lyons led a group of harpers from the Ceoil Óirghialla Harp Ensemble, and accompanied several of the singers. The Music Theatre group, including soloists Níamh Kerr, Hannah Casey, Brendan Linnane, John Boylan, Aaron Roche, Fionán Stapleton, Lucia Mangan, Kevin O’Brien, Niall McGuigan, Brendan Staunton and Brendan Cleary were under the direction of Siubhán Ó Dubháin, who expressed her delight at the success of the event. ‘A few months ago Paul McGettrick, Gerry O’Connor and myself were remarking that it was 40 years since Ó Riada sa Gaiety. Fr. Clement Mac Manuis, who had attended the original concert encouraged us to attempt a reconstruction of the event, which originated in Dundalk with Bean Uí Ghogáin all those years ago. It was an honour and a privilege to have her with us on Thursday night.’

Mr Denis Cummins, President DkIT, Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Mr Sofian A. Karim, First Secretary Embassy of Malaysia and Mrs Arni Abdul Jamal

Congratulations L7 Construction Graduates!

Like Father Like Son!

John McCaul with his father Pat after graduating with a Degree in Computing last Saturday.

Breda Brennan

What was your favourite subject at school? Definitely Science especially Biology. I loved Music as a subject as well. (‘Biology’ is available in the Library at shelf no. 570 KNO) What is your favourite film? I am a big Alfred Hitchcock fan and my favourite Hitchcock movie is 'Vertigo'. (‘Vertigo’ is available in the Library at shelf no. 791.43 HIT)

What is your favourite type of food? I like pasta dishes and I love most kinds of seafood, especially shellfish (‘100 great pasta sauces’ available in the Library at shelf no. 641.814 GRI)

What is the best book you’ve read in the last year? The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry. I think he really captured the Ireland of that time period and attitudes to both religion and women. (‘The Secret Scripture is available in the Library at shelf no. 823 BAR)

Where do you get your news from? Usually the Irish Times. I also listen to 'Five Seven Live' on the way home from work. (Irish Times and Irish Times Digital Archive is available via the Library's Electronic Resources)

Favourite / most used website? The DkIT website of course!

Favourite city/country or country you would most like to visit I have been to many countries around the world but have never been to Italy and I would really love to see Florence (‘Italy : the rough guide ’ is in the Library at shelf no. 914.5 BEL)

Person you most admire, living or dead There are very many but I should particularly mention Charles Darwin, the father of all modern biology. This year is the 200th anniversary of his death and the 150th anniver- sary of the publication of 'On the Origin of Species'. He suffered greatly in his personal life for his controversial views. (‘On the Origin of Species’ is available in the Library at Shelf No. 576.82 DAR) What would you do if you won the lotto? Definitely take time off work! A Caribbean cruise would really tempt me right now! DkIT Offers Free Workshop for Class of 2009 ‘How to get a job in a recession’ Saturday 14th November

Dundalk Institute of Technology is running a FREE two hour workshop to equip the Class of 2009 with the necessary skills to put them at the forefront of securing employment in difficult times.

The ‘How to get a job in the recession’ workshop is open to all 2009 graduates who may be experiencing difficulty gaining employment on completion of their studies. The workshop will take place on Saturday 14 th November in DkIT.

Speaking about the event, DkIT President Mr Denis Cummins commented ‘graduates from Dundalk Institute of Technology are highly qualified and are employed in local, national and international firms. DkIT sets best standards and our graduates have great reputations in the work force. Unfortunately, times are more challenging for graduates and securing employment presents more difficulties than we have experienced in recent years. However, at DkIT we are innovative and continuously design new programmes and workshops to meet the needs of our students. The ‘How to get a job in the recession’ workshop will equip recent graduates with skills to help find and secure employment and DkIT is committed to helping our graduates by providing this free workshop. The workshop will give graduates tools to: • Uncover the hidden job market • Identify the needs of employers • Create a ‘stand-out’ CV • Preparation for interview

The event will take place on Saturday 14 th November at 10am and will be repeated again at 1.30pm. Booking is essential and to secure your place, you can email [email protected] or telephone 042 9370399. For more information contact Ita McGuigan 042 9370399

DKIT LGBT Society to be hosted by Dundalk Outcomers

The LGBT Society in DKIT are pleased to announce that this year they will be hosted by Dundalk Outcomers, a support group for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people with a building in the centre of the town.

The LGBT society offers an opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students to meet each other without fear of discrimination or abuse. The society also welcomes any student who may be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as students who wish to show support for LGBT issues in the college.

Membership for the LGBT society has been building since September, and weekly meetings are being held to plan out events and activities for the year. We hope to have a calendar of both social and political events, such as a Rainbow Week for the college, film screenings, and social visits to LGBT societies in other colleges. The next two meetings will be held at 5pm in Room 3 (above the MPC) on Thursday 5 th and Thursday 12 th November. Anyone wishing to join can come along, or contact John on 086 1625030 or through [email protected].

Dundalk Outcomers offers a broad range of services as a support group for LGBT people in the NE Region, including social ‘drop-in’ facilities and peer support, a telephone helpline, group workshops for health and awareness-raising, one-to-one advice, and information provision. Its key drop-in services are in the centre on Roden Place, Dundalk: Monday Women’s Night, Tuesday Men’s Night, Thursday Young Adult’s Night (18-26 years old) and Saturday’s Youth Group (14-17 years old). Full confidentiality and support for anyone who calls in is assured.

Outcomers also runs annual events and programmes. The next big event is the “A Sanely Big Variety Night” in the Spirit Store on Saturday 14th November. This night of Music, Dance, Comedy, Drama and Drag should be one to re- member! Acts include: MC Alan Doherty, Dynamix, Michael Downey, the Tease Mafia, powered by springs, Oulala Productions, Gavin Quigley & B2P, Jason Coburn, Tina Tight Arse, the Burlesque Belles, DKIT Drama Society… and much more! Doors open at 8pm, Tickets ONLY €10 and are extremely limited.

Further information on Dundalk Outcomers and “A Sanely Big Variety Night” can be found on www.outcomers.org or by ringing the centre on 042 -9329816. Tickets are currently available from Out- comers, or from the Spirit Store: www.spiritstore.ie. Speaker Series at DkIT: Perspectives on Sustainability This Month DkIT is hosting a series of talks on the theme of Sustainability. It is widely accepted that climate change is already happening and represents one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet. Educational Institutes across the world are beginning to focus their research and teaching on finding ways to live and work more sustainably and DkIT is no exception. This months series of talks are open to all at DkIT and the public .

The series begins this Thursday the 12 of November with a talk on the Impact of Climate Change on Developing Worlds by Orla Quinn of Trocaire . It will take place in the Board Room at DkIT at 1pm. Trocaire Bobby McCormack—Systems Thinking are an Irish development charity who work to bring about positive and lasting change in some of the worlds poorest places. They do this through the use of development education, campaigning for change and influencing

governments.

The next talk takes place on the 16th of November and is entitled Systems Thinking: An ancient and effective approach to modern problems . The talk will be given by Bobby McCormack and will take place from 1 – 2 in the Presidents Office Meeting Room. Bobby has been working in the arena of development and learning for the last 10 years. He has an MA in Development Studies and a B.Sc in Education and Training. He works as a lecturer in Dundalk Institute of Technology on the Development Studies and Youth Work programme and is co founder of Drogheda based Development Education

NGO Development Perspectives.

On the 18th of November the subject of Competitiveness, Sustainability & Infrastructure will be explored by Dr Jonathan Healy. This talk also takes place from 1 – 2 in the Presidents Office Meeting Room.r Jonathan Healy, Senior Policy Analyst, Environmental Policy, National Competitiveness & Infrastructure Dept, Forfás. Jonathan Healy is an environmental economist and was educated at UCD where he received BA, MSc and PhD degrees in economics. He is currently a Senior Policy Analyst in the National Competitiveness and Infrastructure Department in Forfás, with responsibility for environmental policy. On Friday the 20th of November Larry Staudt will talk about Ireland's Energy Future from 1 – 2pm in the Presidents office meeting room. Larry Staudt has been involved with renewable energy since 1978. He was engineering manager of Enertech Corporation in the USA in the early 1980s, during which time Enertech designed and installed close to 2000 wind turbines, both large and small, and fifty solar hot water heating systems. He designed and constructed two solar homes. He was a founder member and chief executive of the Irish Wind Energy Association, and a vice president of the European Wind Energy Association. He is lecturer at Dundalk Institute of Technology, teaching and supervising theses in their MSc in Renewable Energy Systems. The final talk in this series is called A Campus Community Garden: just do it! The speaker is Tom Fahey of NUI Maynooth and it will take place in the Board Room, DkIT at 1pm in the Presidents office meeting room.

For more information contact [email protected]

All are welcome! TheThe BaldBald PrimaPrima DonnaDonna LetLet LooseLoose atat DKITDKIT

Cultural Studies Students present Eugene Ionesco’s witty, eloquent and sometimes absurd play ‘The Bald Prima Donna.’ The students promise to entertain, amuse and even

confuse modern audiences with this updated 1950’s masterpiece.

Come along to the Black Box Theatre, South Block, DKIT

Tuesday 17th November to Thursday 19th November 2009

12.30pm

(Performance lasts around half an hour)

Tickets €4 (€3 student concession)

For pre-booking contact

[email protected] or Larry Brennan 0871338059 Nooh Buye with his family after graduating on Saturday with Honours in Computing Freshers Continue Unbeaten Run: DkIT Freshers V Blanchardstown IT

This week took the DkIT Freshers GAA team up to Dublin to face Blanchardstown IT. In a tightly fought encounter the team finished strong to notch up their second consecutive win of the campaign, with a 2-7 to 2-11 victory.

The fixture was originally due to be played in the Blanchardstown IT pitches, but was changed to St. Bridget's GAA grounds on the Navan Road. This meant that the match would be played on astro turf. To prepare the DkIT lads for this terrain, they headed for a training session in the Louth GAA grounds in Darver the evening prior to the match. This was to pay dividends on the day.

Early points were exchanged between the two sides, with James Cravin and Darragh O'Brien getting on the scoresheet. However, Blachardardstown looked to be more in command early on and went two points up with twenty minutes gone. In a similar move to last week, James Cravin broke from halfway in a searing solo run, rounding several tackles before hammering the ball past the Blanchardstown keeper. Dundalk IT were back in the match and finished the first half very strong with a another goal from Darragh O'Brien leaving them 2-5 to 1-2 up at the break.

Things started well for DkIT in the second half, but some great possession was not converted into scores. Instead Blachardstown started their engines and hit five points without reply. Backs were to the wall at this stage, being one point down and facing defeat with ten minutes to go. Key performances in the defence from Justin McCarville and Darragh Matthews seemed to spur DkIT into action and points from Eanna Atkinson, Shane Devin and Adrian Rafferty seemed to instill a confidence into their game. Some tactical substitutions were made and DkIT started to dominate possession once again. More unanswered points followed from Anton Hand, Bernard Mulligan and James Cravin, which put the game well beyond doubt.

The next outing will be against Trinity College next Wednesday, 11th November. A win here will guarantee them automatic qualification for the knockout stages of this All-Ireland League.

Team:- 1. Edward Kirby (Meath - Kildalkey) 2. Enda McCaffery ( - Currin) Scorers:- 3. Damian Whelan ( - Kilanerin) Eanna Atkinson 0-1 4. Justin McCarville (Louth - Naomh Martin) James Craven 1-3 5. Colm Barry (Meath - Bective) Enda McCaffery 0-1 6. Daragh Matthews (Louth - Oliver Plunketts) Darragh O'Brien 1-2 7. Thomas Finnegan (Monaghan - Aughnamullen) Adrian Rafferty 0-1 8. Shane Divan (Louth - St. Brides) Anton Hand 0-1 9. Sam Whooley (Westmeath - Ballymore) Bernard Mulligan 0-1 10. Lorcan Ludden (Louth - Sean McDermotts) Shane Devin 0-1 11. James Craven (Louth - Geraldines) 12. Mark McArdle (Monaghan - Aughnamullen) 13. Eanna Atkinson (Monaghan - Cremartin) 14. Darragh O'Brien (Meath - Ratoath) 15. Adrian Rafferty (Louth - Dundalk )

Subs:- Gary Matthews (Louth - St. Finbars) for Sam Whooley Shane Casserly (Meath - Carnaross) for Darragh O'Brien Sean Byrne (Louth - Stabannon Parnells) for Eanna Atkinson Anton Hand (Louth - Young Irelands) for Mark McArdle Bernard Mulligan (Louth - St. Josephs) for Gary Matthews 3rd level Division 3 Camogie blitz – 05 -10 -09

DKIT hosted the first of a number of blitzes to be organised for these teams. It was well attended with five teams taking part – Dundalk IT, Trinity College Dublin, St. Marys Bel- fast, Sligo IT and Crumlin College. failed to turn up. The blitz was played on a round robin basis ensuring each team four matches. Each match was 10 minutes a side, resulting in each game being played at a high tempo as you had to get the desired result in a short space of time.

Dundalk IT gave a great account of them selves, winning two matches and losing two. The girls battled and fought very hard all day, in unfavourable weather conditions of very strong winds and rain. We were missing a number of players due to placement but I would like to thank all those who turned up and represented their college. It is greatly ap- preciated. You should be very proud of yourselves.

Results form the DKIT matches; Dundalk IT 3-3 v Crumlin 0-2 Sligo IT 0-0 v Dundalk IT 0-4 St. Marys 1-4 v Dundalk IT 0-2 Dundalk IT 0-0 v Trinity 4-4

It is planned that there will be another blitz before Christmas including the same teams. The top team from each day will play off in a Division 3 final.

The girls would like to thank Shane Darcy for all his help in organising the blitz, and help- ing train the team. Thank you to members of the Hurling team who helped out with umpir- ing, warm up and looking after the other teams. Also thank you to Diarmuid and Shane in Sports and Society for all their help.

Panel on the day; Sarah Mc Manus, Niamh Kelly, Emma Smith, Marie Greenan, Aisling Greenan, Orla Doyle, Andrea Pearle, Ellen Mc Meel, Carmel Mc Skane, Aine Keough, Emily Mangan, Marie Devine, Eilish Mulholland, Marian Sheehan, Aisling O’ Rourke, Alice Mc Mahon Shauna Curtis CaptionCaption CompetitionCompetition .. Mama Mia, Here we go again. Why! why! Can't we keep the ball out?

Congratulations Tom Callinan

And next week’s....

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