UCD Conv4-Rh.qxd 15/4/05 15:47 Page cov1 Worldwide Magazine for University College Dublin Alumni Issue 10 2005 Celebrating 150 years of history Dr Anne Madden & Louis Le Brocquy CELEBRATING THE PAST CREATING THE FUTURE //UCD Conv5-AB.qxd 19/4/05 11:39 Page ifc2 INSIDE INTRODUCTION SPORT President’s Welcome 01 Going for Gold Gavin Cummiskey meets some athletes STRATEGY striving for excellence at UCD’s High Performance Centre 28 Creating the Future Hugh Brady, president of UCD announces UCD’s Strategic Plan and Reform of Academic Structures 02 DEVELOPMENT Alumni and Business support UCD Gerry Looby, UCD’s director of development tells of the challenges ahead and profiles some past fundraising successes 04 Myth and memory on an Irish lake Eoghan Rice finds out how UCD archaeologists discover the past 18 Proteomics Institute Prof Mike Dunn and Prof Stephen Pennington describe a unique research institute in UCD 20 Book of Genealogies Edel Bhreathnach on one very special manuscript in the UCD Library Special UCD 150 Collections 21 Celebrating UCD’s 150th anniversary Outreach New ERA: providing life A profile of some of the many events in chances celebration of UCD’s 150th anniversary 24 Daniel McConnell meets some New ERA UCD Hurling on a trip to the top students and graduates 10 SCIENCE Lindie Naugthon on the success of UCD’s Hurling team 30 The International perspective BUSINESS Claire O’Connell talks with Professor Creating tomorrow’s innovators IN BRIEF William Hall, UCD Vice President for David Darcy on how the NITM is helping News from around the campus 14 International Affairs 06 to build Ireland’s knowledge intensive RESEARCH economy 12 UCD ALUMNI Ireland’s shopping meccas FORBAIRT TEANGA Chapter News 32 Dr Tony Parker tells Liam Brady about the SOS ó Roinn Bhéaloidis Éireann! Graduate Association News 34 changing landscape of Ireland’s retail Cathal Porteir on a unique project in Reunions 38 industry 08 UCD’s Department of Irish Folklore 22 Class Notes 40 FEATURES NEWS UCD Connections IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH ANY MEMBER Editorial Board Dr Pádraic Conway, Gerry Looby, OF THE ALUMNI DEVELOPMENT OFFICE STAFF, Eilis 0’Brien, Victoria Bruce and Jane McCarthy PLEASE CONTACT US AT: Design Vermillion Design SPORT ALUMNI Print Lithographic Universal ALUMNI DEVELOPMENT OFFICE UCD, BELFIELD, DUBLIN 4 In the compilation of this publication, every care is taken to TEL +353 1 7161447 ensure accuracy. Any errors or omissions should be brought to EMAIL [email protected] the attention of the UCD Alumni Development Office. However, EVENTS UCD does not accept any liability to any person for loss or damage arising from anything contained in this publication or WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU! for any error or omission in it even if such loss and damage is caused by the negligence of UCD or its servants and agents. //UCD Conv5-AB.qxd 19/4/05 11:39 Page 1 PRESIDENT’S WELCOME I am delighted to welcome when we awarded honorary doctorates to individuals who you to our 150th have made exceptional contributions both in Ireland and anniversary edition of the world stage. Later that week, UCD staff, students, UCD Connections. graduates and friends gathered for a gala performance UCD’s 150th of Elgar’s ‘Dream of Gerontius’, based on Newman’s great anniversary provides a poem. Other events have included the announcement of timely opportunity for us a new portfolio of student scholarships, the launch of the to celebrate past UCD Volunteers Overseas book Colour on a Grey Canvas, achievements and plan for the publication of the L&H’s The Literary and Historical the future. When John Society 1955-2005, the launch of the inaugural UCD Ulysses Henry Newman opened medal and lecture series, and a celebration of 150 years of the doors of a new Celtic Studies among many other faculty and department- university in November led anniversary events. 1854, he defined for the On Bloomsday on 16 June, UCD looks forward to the modern world the value of a university in his great work publishing of a very special volume The UCD Aesthetic: from The Idea of a University. Today in UCD we still abide by Newman to the Present¸ edited by Dr Anthony Roche of the Newman’s ideas of knowledge as our ultimate end of our School of English. This book features 22 essays on writers endeavours. No matter what benefits our work at UCD associated with UCD from Newman, Hopkins and Joyce brings to the individual, the economy and the society, the through the 1930s generation of Flann O’Brien, Denis creation of new knowledge through research and the Devlin, Brian Coffey and Kate O’Brien to the present day. transmission of existing knowledge through teaching is at The writers of the essays, which are aimed at a general the heart of all our activities. audience, are the cream of UCD's School of English past UCD was founded with the ideal of helping Ireland grow and present and contemporary writers who have themselves to become a flourishing European country. For the past 150 attended UCD. Copies of this book will be available at the years, UCD and UCD graduates have made a unique campus bookshop. contribution to the development of all aspects of Irish Many of the 150th anniversary events have been occasions society – academic, scientific, literary, social, cultural, to welcome alumni back to UCD, and to bring you up to sporting, professional and political. UCD has never ceased date with our research and teaching developments. I would to take up Newman’s challenge to be “the alma mater of the encourage you to log on to the calendar of events on rising generation”.UCD’s ideas have helped make Ireland www.ucd.ie/150 to get a taste for our 150th anniversary the success it is today. celebrations. Today UCD offers the most extensive range of subjects, Rounding up the anniversary year we are hosting a UCD courses, degrees and research opportunities of any 150 Alumni Garden Party on 24 June at 6pm in the university in Ireland. We have recently completed an surrounds of O’Reilly Hall in UCD. I would like to extend a ambitious strategic planning and restructuring programme personal invitation to you to come to this great celebration for the University. In September 2005 first year students will of UCD’s 150th anniversary. be offered a fully modularised, semesterised curriculum – UCD Horizons, which will maximise their choice in terms of how and what they study. Our ambition is to become a research-intensive university that is among one of the top universities of Europe. Hugh Brady, The new structure will provide for much improved President communication with our alumni. We are committed to building closer relationships with our graduates and to ensuring that we better respond to your needs. I am UCD 150 ALUMNI GARDEN PARTY convinced that as students enter UCD they embark on a life-long relationship with our University. Indeed our annual UCD 150 Alumni Garden Party on Golden Jubilee Reunion is one of the highlights of UCD’s Friday 24th June at 6pm in O’Reilly Hall calendar. It is a tremendous honour for UCD to welcome back graduates of fifty years, to share their memories and to Reserve your ticket for the UCD 150 learn of the important role that UCD played in their lives. Garden Party by contacting the UCD Alumni Development Office today at This 150th anniversary year has been a particularly busy tel +353 1 716 1393 or email [email protected]! one for UCD. This year’s edition of UCD Connections gives a taste of many of our anniversary events as well as of Tickets are complimentary. Numbers are limited and tickets will be significant educational, research and other developments allocated on a first come, first served basis. Entry is strictly by ticket at the University. only. Numbers are limited and tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Apply for a ticket as soon as possible and Our anniversary celebrations began in style in early no later than 3 June. November with a UCD 150 Honorary Conferring Ceremony UCD Connections 01 //UCD Conv5-AB.qxd 19/4/05 11:41 Page 4 ALUMNI AND BUSINESS SUPPORT UCD’S AMBITION TO BECOME A RESEARCH-INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SUPPORTS UCD Dear alumni, Business School honours Founder of Irish Marketing In the 12 months since the last issue of UCD Connections Smurfit School UCD has raised funds for a new Chair in a number of highly significant developments have taken Marketing to be named after Dr Anthony C. Cunningham, place at UCD. widely acknowledged as the founding figure of marketing in Ireland. The new Chair will enable the school to attract an The celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding academic of international stature and provide the school with of the University by John Henry Newman has provided the resources to undertake important marketing research. an opportunity to look back over the major contribution Donors to the fund include; The O’Reilly Foundation, George that UCD and its alumni have made to the foundation and Angela Moore, Jerry Liston, Fergal Mulchrone, and Peter and development of modern Ireland. UCD has Ledbetter. throughout its history played a key role in the development of Irish society and it is essential that it After completing his BComm and MEconSc at NUI and his continues to drive both social change and economic PhD at Cornell, USA, Professor Cunningham returned to development in the future. UCD in 1964, where he helped establish the first Executive MBA in Europe.