Thomas Mitchell, b. 1939

Track 1: Upbringing in Co. Mayo and early education. In 1958 entered Galway University to study Classics. Remained in Galway for postgraduate work, followed by his Fellowship at Cornell University, USA, where he remained for six years. Main area of study the Ancient Classics; moved to Philadelphia as a lecturer in this field. Track 2: In 1975 returned to Ireland on Professor Stanford’s invitation to undertake further studies in Trinity College Dublin and to deliver lectures on his area of expertise. Track 3: Memories of that particular time, becoming Professor of the Faculty in 1978, introducing new courses and making changes to the Latin curriculum. Track 4: In 1985 his appointment as Senior Dean under Provost Bill Watts. The challenges of those times. Track 5: His appointment as Provost in 1991. Major achievements and challenges as Provost, which included maintaining the autonomy of Trinity as a private college. Among his primary goals were obtaining funding for the college and setting up the Trinity Foundation in 1994. Track 6: Reflects on his Provostship from 1991 until his retirement from that position in 2001. His Chairmanship of St. James’s Hospital. Currently Deputy Chairman of Atlantic Philanthropies.