Larry Poland (b. 1934), former Head of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (part 1)

Larry Poland initially recalls his early schooling in Bandon, County Cork, followed by his days at Presentation Brothers College in Cork. He discusses his time at UCC and his graduation with a primary degree. He recalls the history of UCC and the Crawford during the 1920s when they worked jointly on a degree course for electrical and mechanical engineers. After World War II, the Crawford conducted a radio course until the early 1950s. A marine engineering course for Irish Shipping was established at the Crawford in the 1950s and it was the forerunner of the National Maritime Institute in Ringaskiddy. After graduation Larry spent a most interesting three months in 1958 as a student engineer with Aer Lingus and following graduation was appointed to the Crawford to lead a then small Electrical Engineering department. During his interview by the VEC, he was asked by the CEO if he could develop a telecommunications course, and he assured him that he could indeed. He humorously recalls his rather heated discussions with the powers that be about the budget for the new course, discussions that were eventually to prove successful.