Tom O’Donnell (b. 1935)

Tom O’Donnell is a Mayoman, born and reared in Castlebar. In 1954 at the age of 18, he began work with Bord na Móna at Oweninny, near Crossmolina. In 1956 he was transferred to Dublin as trainee draughtsman at Head Office, and attended Bolton Street College by night, graduating with a qualification in building construction. His working life with Bord na Móna involved designing railways, bridges and roads through the bog lands. He qualified as a chartered engineer through the adult education mature route. He discusses the policy of centralisation at Bord na Móna in 1989. He retired in 2000.