TOM AMBROSE, BORN 1933, FORMER ASSISTANT HEAD OF DEPARTMENT MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

Newcastlewest, Co Limerick is the birthplace of Tom Ambrose. He recalls his early days, his initial education, and his graduation in Mathematical Science from UCD. In 1956, he began work in London for De Havilland Limited, where he remained for two years, and in 1957 he returned to Ireland and gained employment as a teacher in Electrical Engineering in Kevin Street. At that time in Ireland, technicians were in huge demand. He discusses the structure of the academic system in the college at that time. He also lectured in Mathematics and Physics at UCD, by special permission of Hugh de Lacy, Principal of Kevin Street. He provides his views on Dr Patrick Hillery and Donagh O’Malley, and the changes these men instigated in education in Ireland in the 1960s. He retired in 1996 having spent 39 years in the academic field.