a presidential encounter - National University of Ireland, Galway

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COVER STORY Celebrating 40 years of the Defence Forces in Galway In 1969, the year man walked on the moon, the first army cadet walked into UCG (now NUI Galway). Since then over 1,000 officers have followed, creating a unique and mutually rewarding bond between the Defence Forces and the University. Commandant Dan Harvey traces the history of a very special relationship In any democracy the role of the armed forces is to defend the state against armed aggression. Manpower is the most critical resource in any nation’s military force, a resource that must be properly led and managed. Four decades ago there was a realisation that better officer education was needed if the Defence Forces was to be able to carry out its operational duties at home and abroad and respond effectively to rapid changes in the environment in which it operated. “I have a clear recollection of when and why it was decided to pursue thirdlevel education for officers. It was a major decision, one thought at the time to be potentially hugely beneficial to the Defence Forces and one which has proven to be just that, in every possible way. This has been borne out by the constantly sought after ‘Irish Officer’ for key appointments in peace-support operations around the world. Had we not undertaken at that time to proceed with this initiative I have no doubt we would have been left behind by many other armies who were doing so before and since its introduction,” says Lt Gen Dermot Earley, Defence Forces’ Chief of Staff, who compares the decision to proceed with third-level officer education in 1969 to the landmark 1960 decision to send troops to the Congo, which marked the beginning of nearly 50 remarkable years of peacekeeping efforts. Having established the educational imperative, the next decision to be made was which educational institution to choose. It didn’t take long to identify Galway’s potential. Forty years ago Galway was Ireland’s great college city. The townspeople had a kindly attitude towards students. The community in general was very college-oriented. The college’s academic reputation and facilities were excellent and it had perhaps a less diverse student body than elsewhere, its undergraduates coming from a not dissimilar socioeconomic bracket. Galway, the army concluded, was the best possible place for a college to be and UCG the best possible place for the officer cadet undergraduate to be. In 1967, the Commission on Third Level Education produced a report that led to the arrangement whereby cadets would commence in UCG in 1969. Michael Kavanagh from the Registrar’s Office at NUI Galway recalls the immediate and dramatic impact made by those first cadet students. “As a student in UCG from 1970 to 1974, I saw the arrival of the first cadet class in Galway. It may be difficult for today’s students to grasp, but initially the cadets were viewed as almost exotic figures. UCG was a much, much smaller campus back then, with only some 3,000 students and the arrival of these fine young men with cars had an almost extraordinary dimension to it. This elite corps made an immediate contribution to the sporting and also the general life of the University – indeed to the general life of Galway city as well.’’ Over the past 40 years, more than 1,000 officers have forged lifelong memories and friends from their three or four years at UCG. Life there was generally eventful, interesting and fun. As the focus of their future career was already decided, they were able to enjoy the present. It was education in the best of circumstances. Although lectures were at the core of the student existence, they were never onerous or all-encompassing. As a result the cadet, now officer, integrated easily into college life, mixing well with fellow students and often becoming seriously committed to sporting activities. It is no exaggeration to say that hundreds of officers have played on UCG teams of all descriptions during the last 40 years. Among the better known were Ciaran FitzGerald who went on to lead Ireland to Triple Crown glory in the mid-eighties; intercounty footballers Colin McStay and Des Bergin, and national oarsman Paddy Alyward. “Cadet officers were always heavily involved in sports and they exerted a positive influence from the off,” affirms Tony ‘The Horse’ Regan, the long-time Head of Sport at NUI Galway. “UCG teams and clubs benefited from their levels of discipline, commitment and organisational skills, not to mention from their profile as players. There were some very good, even exceptional players amongst them. It was their maturity and discipline that brought success to many Fitzgibbon, Collingwood and Connaught cup-winning UCG teams. The minority sports and clubs also benefited from the talent of athletes such as Liam Murphy (basketball) and Mark Keogh (martial arts).” Off-campus and off-the-pitch, participation levels were high, too, as the cadets flung themselves into the lively social scene. Relationships and romance seemed to either die out or become serious within a short period of time with many officers forming one half of those “annoyingly cute couples” (as one graduate officer put it) amongst the student body. Indeed, many marriages resulted from courtships that began with a romantic liaison watching the sun set slowly over Galway Bay! Change managers If an education teaches you anything it is to have a positive attitude towards change – and considerable change within the Defence Forces there has been, particularly over the past decade. As part of this process, graduate officers were, and are, required to help map the future ambitious course of the Defence Forces. Many Galway graduates have achieved a high ranking in the Defence Forces. They include Brig Gen Sean McCarn, General Officer Commanding Defence Forces’ Training Centre; Brig Gen Michael Finn, Director of the Logistics Division, European Union Military Staff; Brig Gen Tom Behan, Irish Military Representative at the Irish Mission to the PSC; Brig Gen Gerry Hegarty, General Officer Commanding 4th Western Brigade; Acting Brig Gen Ger Aherne, Deputy Force Commander Minurcat in Chad; Col Seamous O Glollain, Director of Operations, Defence Forces Headquarters; Colonel Connor O Boyle, Director of the Strategic Planning Office; and Colonel Paul Packenham, Director of Administration. These and others emphasise the importance of a formal education structure that develops competencies and leadership from the tactical to the strategic and keeps abreast of developments at the military, economic and political levels. Many other officers have enjoyed successful careers outside of the Defence Forces. The combination of experience at home and overseas; military and academic qualifications; and personal development and growth has ensured educated officers are highly regarded in business circles, particularly within the multinational sector. (See pages 30 and 34 for respective profiles of ex-army officers John Ging and Ciaran FitzGerald.) Phillip Smyth, graduate officer and now Head of Shannon College, believes the cadets benefited greatly from their time at the University. “The officer selection and cadet training produced an already well-rounded individual. 43rd Class 1969 Back row, from left: Comdt Young, 2/Lts Coates, Rooney, Hyland, Ahern, Flood, Hegarty, Coffey, Ryan Front row, from left: 2/Lts McCann, Young, Allen, Col Carroll, Comdt Murphy, 2/Lts McSweeney, Collins, Goulding 44th Class 1970 Front row, from left: Lts Collins, Duggan, O’Sullivan, Sweeney Centre row, from left: Lts Pakenhan, Baynes, FitzGerald, O’Meara, Hayes Back row, from left: Lts Minogue, Burke, O’Shea 80th Cadet Class Back row, left to right: Lts Naughton, Morrissey, Rochford, McGuire, O’Shaughnessy, Murray, Curran, Kiely, Brennock Middle row, left to right: Lts Quinlan, Collins, Beatty, Cowley, Quinn, Quinn, O’Hara, O’Riordan, Bent, Hannon Front row, from left: Lts Twomey, Carton, McGettigan, Snee, Comdt Fahy, Capt Mangan, Lts Arnott, McCann, McGrath 24 25
COVER STORY Add a university education and you’ve got a good manager. The impact of third-level education on the officer corps as a whole then was significant. It increased professionalism and enhanced their ability to think laterally so when changes occurred the army was ready. The UCG degree was a wonderful platform for continued education within and outside the army as well as for postgraduate education.’’ profiles Serving abroad 69th Cadet Class 1998 Back row, from left: Lts Crummey, Cullen, Lavin, Clarke, Carley Front row, from left: Lt. Connery, Comdt Kingston, Capt Ó Maoláin, Lt O’Brien NUI Galway student Lt David Kiely from Macroom, Co Cork, recently won the Logistics and Transport category of this year’s Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport national awards. The awards are presented to the originators of ideas that could make the most significant contribution to some aspect of the transport industry in Ireland. Lt Kiely (second from left) is pictured receiving his award from Barry O’Grady, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport. Also pictured is Comdt Shane Fahy, Officer Commanding University Student Administrative Complement (USAC) (left) and Brig Gen Gerry Hegarty, General Officer Commanding 4th Western Brigade Having a third-level education also stood to army officers who were asked to serve abroad. As a neutral country, Ireland has over the last 50 years played a significant and substantial role in many difficult and dangerous UN and EU peacekeeping missions abroad. The most recent overseas operation concerned the ongoing strife in Darfur coupled with the multiple conflicts in the border areas between Darfur, Chad and the Central African Republic, which have scarred the lives of countless thousands of innocent men, women and children. In November 2007, the Government agreed to deploy 400 Irish troops for the UN-mandated EU military operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic. This was the Defence Forces’ most challenging and ambitious overseas deployment to date into a distant, harsh environment with climatic extremes and an unstable security situation. Ireland was the second largest troop contributor to the mission but significantly, and for the first time ever in its history, it produced the overall operation commander, Lt Gen Pat Nash, recent recipient of the Légion d’Honneur from France, whose task it was to translate diplomatic and political policy into military action. That involved giving purpose, direction and motivation to a 3,700- strong multinational force from 26 countries. Several graduate officers from UCG were represented on his large planning staff at the mission’s operational headquarters in Paris. As an Irishman who headed up an EU mission based in Paris, Lt Gen Nash admits to having been “apprehensive” about the challenge at first but says his job was made easier by the presence of well educated and trained Irish army officers “who find solutions not present problems and who are confident, proactive and positive. It was of great satisfaction to me personally to witness this in all of the Irish officers who deployed. And the foundation for all this is, I believe, our officer education.” His words are underscored by Brig Gen Ger Aherne, Deputy Force Command Chad/Central African Republic, who credits NUI Galway with giving him and his fellow army officers “an historical, sociological and political perspective on the world which we might otherwise not have and one which benefits us hugely when we serve abroad.” Today, there still exists lasting admiration and respect for the benefits of thirdlevel and postgraduate education amongst the officer body and, within it, an acute appreciation of having been fortunate enough to receive that education at NUI Galway. Brig Gen Gerry Hegarty BA 1972 Born in Co Sligo, Gerry Hegarty joined the Defence Forces’ cadet programme in 1968 and entered UCG a year later. He has held a number of senior positions within the Defence Forces in Ireland including Director of Military Police, Executive Officer, 2 Eastern Brigade and GOC, 4 Western Brigade. Abroad, he served as Officer Commanding, 89 Battalion, UNIFIL in Lebanon, 2001, and Task Force Commander KFOR, Kosovo, 2007/8. “I was a member of the first class of 14 cadets to arrive in UCG so everything for us was strange, new and very exciting. We had to wear our uniforms to college. This was at a time when student protest was at its height, particularly against the war in Vietnam. Despite this, we were welcomed with open arms and very quickly integrated into student life. My cadet classmates, Dan Aherne in Gaelic football, Jim Goulding in hurling and Noel McCann in soccer featured very prominently in the great sporting success UCG enjoyed at that time. UCG was still small enough then for you to know almost everyone in your final year. Great and lasting friendships were made and a few marriages as well. Pat Rabitte and Frank Flannery were prominent in the Students’ Union and went out of their way to make us feel part of the student scene in the college. There were some memorable characters on the teaching staff. I remember history professor Hayes McCoy one evening admonishing a student smoking during one of his classes with the words: ‘Would the young man at the back of the hall wallowing in the arms of Lady Nicotine kindly leave the room and take his pleasures elsewhere!’ “I remember TP O’Neill’s pride at the publication of his biography of Eamon De Valera, which he co-wrote with Lord Longford. He told us many great stories of his time in the Áras with Dev while he was writing the book. The morning after the IRA bombing of Nelson’s Pillar in Dublin in 1967, Dev asked TP to read him the newspaper headlines. Dev’s reaction, according to TP, was one of disappointment at their prosaic nature. He said a more succinct headline would have been ‘British admiral leaves Dublin by air’. “I am a proud graduate of NUI Galway. I retain from my years there a passion for history and English, an interest in the arts, and a deep and abiding belief in the value of a liberal education.” Comdt Mary Carroll MA 2004 Originally from Ballinlough, Co Roscommon, Mary Carroll joined the Defence Forces in 1982. Having completed a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, in her own time, in other colleges in Ireland and abroad, including an MA in Adult Education, Comdt Carroll returned to NUI Galway to complete a two-year postgrad course in Health Promotion in 2004. She was immediately struck by the close-knit community spirit in the college. “Having attended a number of other colleges, I was especially impressed by the conviviality of NUI Galway. It seems to be the best of all possible academic worlds.” Currently Officer Commanding 4 Western Brigade Training Centre with responsibility for induction training for young recruits, junior leadership training and career courses for Non- Commissioned Officers in 4 Western Brigade, she recently embarked, with selected members of her instructor staff, on a certificate/degree course in training and education within the Open Learning Centre NUI Galway. “Military instructors are amongst the best instructors in the country, and are always open to new ideas and ways of doing things. This innovative link with the Open Learning Centre in NUI Galway is fundamentally about the sharing of best practice in training. This will undoubtedly be of benefit to both the Defence Forces and the college into the future.” Her most recent tour of duty abroad with the Defence Forces was with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in 2006. She has also served in South Lebanon and completed a fieldwork placement with the US Air Force as part of her postgraduate studies. Dan Harvey BComm 1983 was commissioned into the Infantry Corp and later transferred to the Military Police Corp. He did three UN tours of duty to Lebanon (1985, 1987 and 1990) and an extended tour of duty to Chad/Central African Republic 2007-2009. He has spent the last decade as a Defence Forces press officer and is currently serving in Defence Forces Headquarters. The 57th Class 1982 was the first to produce a female graduate officer (Lt Miriam McCann) Front row, from left: Lts O’Brien, O’Loughlin, Killian, Cft. Taylor, Lts.McGuinness, O’Shea, O’Neill Second row, from left: Lts Dunleavy, Dinneen, Hanley, Doyle, McCann, McDaid, McNamara Third row, from left: Lts Keane, Carey, Brett, Guinane, Gammell, Goulding, Burke, Kiernan Fourth row, from left: Lts Murphy, Carr, Maughan, Maloney, Burns, Murphy, Barry, Twomey 26 27
Page 1 and 2: A PRESIDENTIAL ENCOUNTER President
Page 3 and 4: INTERVIEW UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE NUI
Page 5 and 6: GALWAY UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Fundra
Page 7 and 8: UNIVERSITY NEWS Extensive coral ree
Page 9 and 10: STUDENT NEWS Sporting honours never
Page 11 and 12: FEATURE Maths makes its mark Tony B
Page 13: FEATURE One track mind One track mi
Page 17 and 18: PROFILE FEATURE Leading from the fr
Page 19 and 20: PROFILE AN ALUMNUS IN... Man of man
Page 21 and 22: ALUMNI NEWS GALWAY EVENTS NUI GALWA
Page 23 and 24: ALUMNI NEWS US EVENTS NEW ENGLAND N
Page 25 and 26: CLASS NOTES Ursula Bracken BA 1993,
Page 27: Exclusive to NUI Galway Graduates T

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