NOEL O’CONNOR, BORN 1959, HEAD OF CAMPUS PLANNING AND DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES

This recording was compiled on the 65 acre site at Grangegorman, where the new DIT campus is to be constructed. Noel O’Connor was born is Roscommon, and grew up in Dublin. In 1978 he began his studies in Hotel Management at Cathal Brugha Street, and later was awarded his HDip from Trinity College. He became a part-time teacher at Cathal Brugha Street in 1982. In 1986 he was appointed full-time teacher there and in 1990 became Head of School. He discusses his twenty years at Cathal Brugha Street, the changes which took place and the demographics. In 2000, DIT initiated a group to look into the possibility of constructing a new campus for DIT, and he discusses the lead into this and his brief. One year later a proposal was agreed upon. He recalls the reaction to this proposal, and the real focus on planning the new campus in 2007.