Frank Imbusch album

Item Set

Items

• Science graduation, 1961
  Among those present in this photograph are members of staff Martin Newell, Tom O'Connor and Breandán Ó Cochlain. Some of the graduates are still to be identified but the others are named in the accompanying key.
• 1977 Atmospheric Physics Conference in UCG
  In 1977 UCG was host to the Ninth International Conference on Atmospheric Aerosols Condensation & Ice Nuclei. The conference was held from 18-24 September and its principal local organizers were Tom O'Connor and Aodhgán Ó Rodaigh (Roddy). 'Some 142 scientists from 22 countries presented 101 papers. The proceedings were published as a book entitled "Atmospheric Aerosols and Nuclei” by Galway University Press' (CNAA, 2023). Among those seen here are Stephen G. Jennings (3rd row from back, centre, between a man with a beard and another with glasses), Aodhgán Ó Rodaigh (3rd from right, holding a sheet of paper), T.P.G. McGreevy (2nd row, last on right) and Tom O'Connor (left of the sign). The photograph was taken outside the Arts-Science Building, which was opened in 1974.
• Boxing team, 1956-57, Morrow Cup winners
  Back row (l.-r.): Unidentified; Brendan Mee; ? Dunleavy; Cody Gill; Unidentified; Frank Imbusch; Christy Townley. Front row (l.-r.): Unidentified; Frank Brickhill; Unidentified; Benny Ruane ; Unidentified; Roy Cazabon ; Peter Ruane. Frank Imbusch records that in the year this photograph was taken Christy Townley handled the club's finances and Frank organized the events. A full record of the Morrow Cup competition has not been located. However, we know that a decade later, when the event was hosted in Galway, the UCG Boxing Club again won the team trophy, not without their rivals in TCD alleging favouritism on the part of the local referee, as reported by the undergraduate weekly Trinity News (p. 8). Several members of the Trinity team are mentioned in the article, but from UCG only 'Corcoran', the winner of the lightweight contest, is named. Christy Townley was the University's seventh Librarian. To date (April 2024) their have been 12: James Hardiman (1845-1855); John Richardson (1855-1877); D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson (1877-1902); Valentine Steinberger (1902-1916); John Howley (1917-1935); Michael J. Fahy (1936-1960); Christopher Townley (1960-1982); Alf MacLochlainn (1982-1987); Patricia O’Connell (1987-1991); Marie Reddan (1991-2008); John Cox (2008-2023); and Monica Crump (2023-). From the outset the standards set for Librarians were extremely high. The examination following which the second Librarian, John Richardson, was appointed makes impressive reading. It was held in the Office of the Queen's University in Dublin Castle in January 1856. Four very lengthy papers were set: Modern Languages and Literature (French and German); General Literature; 'Competitive examination' ( book history and librarianship); and History and English Literature.
• Tom O'Connor with President Ó Tnúthail, 1961
  This photograph was taken on the day on which a doctorate in Physics was conferred on Tom O'Connor for his thesis entitled 'The measurement of the size and concentration of condensation nuclei'. He had been a lecturer in UCG since 1956 and was to become a significant figure in the development of his discipline there. The trees and branches lying in the background are probably the result of Hurricane Debbie which struck the west of Ireland on 16 September 1961, causing widespread damage.
• Pádraig Ó Céidigh and his dog on Aran, 1994
  Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Paddy Keady), professor of Zoology in NUIG, and a specialist of marine biology, was frequently accompanied by his dog. They are seen here beachcombing during a break in proceedings at the launch of the 'Book of Aran'. This is one of 33 photographs taken by Frank Imbusch at the launch.
• John de Courcy Ireland and John Waddell, Aran, 1994
  John de Courcy Ireland, noted maritime historian and political activist, and John Waddell, lecturer and later professor of Archaeology in NUIG, are seen here at the launch of the 'Book of Aran' on Inishmore.    This is one of 33 photographs taken by Frank Imbusch on that day. John de Courcy Ireland was a contributor to the book, which was edited by A. Korff, J. Waddell and J.W. O'Connell.
• Aran book launch 1994, distinguished guests
  Among those present at the launch of The Book of Aran on Inis Mór (Inishmore) in 1994, were Michael D. Higgins, Sabina Higgins and Mary Imbusch, seen here in the foreground of the photo. Michael D. Higgins was at the time Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (an tAire Ealaíon, Cultúir agus Gaeltachta), a position he held from 1993 to 1997. Another prominent politician who travelled to Aran for the launch was Proinsias De Rossa, leader of Democratic Left.
• Aran book launch 1994, the Mac Duach hooker
  When The Book of Aran was to be launched on Inishmore in 1994, its editors decided to bring copies of the book across from Kinvara in the Galway hooker Mac Duach. Among the people seen here are Anne Korff (leaning against the mast), one of the book's editors, with two of the contributors: Paul Walsh (holding one end of the banner) and Gordon Darcy (foremost in the prow). This is one of 31 photos taken by Frank Imbusch on the day of the launch which was attended by numerous members of NUIG staff.
• IMBUSCH, George Francis ('Frank')
• A new student at UCG, 1953
  Pictured here is Frank Imbusch as a new student in UCG. The photograph conveys how relatively uncrowded the main campus was in the 1950s. Before the era of Open Days and orientation tours, arriving at University for the first time was a very different experience to the present one.  It was not until 1960 that student numbers passed 1,000 (Cois Coiribe, 2021). By 2023 there were over 18,000. There had been just 68 when the University opened its doors in 1849.
• Watching the cycle race, summer 1959
  This photograph was taken on Fahy's Field at the 1959 Co. Galway Sports Meet, in which students and staff of UCG participated. It captures the atmosphere of a local sports event in the 1950s. None of the people seen here have been identified.
• Relaxing at Mace Head, Carna, 1958
  At the time this photo was taken, Frank Gaffney (left) and Tom O'Connor (right), of the Physics Department, were engaged in measuring atmosphere composition on the edge of the North Atlantic. Frank Imbusch records that: 'Tom O’Connor joined the staff of the UCG Physics Department in 1956 with a MSc degree from UCD and having spent a period in Atmospheric Physics research at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. With the assistance of Frank Gaffney, the Department’s technician, Tom set up a research facility to continue this research in UCG. In addition, a small weather station collecting daily weather reports was set up on campus, and Frank Gaffney collected and recorded the data. As Tom recalled in a 1999 article in 'From Queen’s College to National University' : “In the summer of 1957 I cycled around the coast of Connemra looking for a site for a research station which would receive air from the Atlantic Ocean which had not crossed over local sources of contamination such as roads or houses. An excellent site was located at Mace Head on the Ard peninsula west of Carna looking oit at the uninhabited Mac Dara’s Island and across the mouth of Bertraghboy Bay towards Roundstone to the northwest. Winds from the sector180 degrees N to 300 degrees N reach the site without passing over local sources of man-made pollution. A disused World War 11 coastal lookout post was leased and renovated, electricity was installed, and measurements of ionization equilibrium in maritime air began there in 1958. This work was strengthened and expanded when I was awarded the first research contract between University College Galway and an Office of the US Forces in Europe on the origin of very small particles or condensation nuclei in the atmosphere as a result of photochemical reactions of trace gases from natural sources” (T. OConnor, p. 208). Much work had to be done on the “excellent site” mentioned by Tom. He and Frank Gaffney cleared the site, which involved moving stones and boulders to improve accessibility to the station. Electricity had to be installed and windows repaired before equipment could be brought in. Eventually, in 1958, research activity began at the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station. The present complex is a far cry from the small coastal look-out station that was its first home. In 2008 the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station celebrated the 50th anniversary of its establishment, and Tom O'Connor and Frank Gaffney were both present. Indeed retirement did not stop him recording the daily weather data in NUIG. He only stopped recording weather readings in 2012.' (Frank Imbusch) The remarkable growth of the facility, which began as 'a small coastal lookout post adjacent to the present Mace Head station', took place in a series of steps. In 1975, the original site pictured here was augmented by 'the purchase of a larger (3 hectare) site at Mace Head [...] for use as a background baseline research station. The ruins of a cottage on the site were refurbished for use as a laboratory in 1985 and a standard meteorological recording system was installed there. From the beginning it has housed the most sophisticated of sensitive gaseous and aerosol particulate instrumentation.' In 1989-90 the cottage was extended and another laboratory was added on the shoreline. The facility, managed by the Ryan Institute, University of Galway, 'is the globally acknowledged clean background western European station, providing key baseline input for intercomparison with levels elsewhere in Europe.' ('History of Mace Head', 2008)
• Aran book launch, Kilronan pier, April 1994
  The central figure in this photo is Dara Beag Ó Fatharta, a native of Baile na Creige on Inis Meáin. A familiar sight to visitors to Dún Chonchubhair and much appreciated by them, he was 'always dressed in the traditional homespun trousers, aran jumper, waistcoat, tweed cap and crios' (Jackie Uí Chionna). Also pictured here are, among others: Jeff O'Connell (left, brown jacket), Pacella Uí Chonaola (right of Jeff), Dara Ó Conaola (left of centre, dark sweater), Anne Korff (right of centre, green trousers), Breandán Ó Madagáin (right, background, white beard),  This is one of 31 photos taken by Frank Imbusch at the launch of The Book of Aran on Inis Mór, Aran Islands, in 1994. Like many other book launches held in different parts of the country, this was a celebration of how the University's research contributes to local and regional life, and also underlines the importance of promotional events and social interactions off the main campus. It was attended by many islanders and mainlanders, including a considerable number of NUIG staff, most of whom travelled by bus to Rossaveal and by boat from there to Kilronan. In 1994, Gordon D'Arcy, one of the contributors to the book, described the experience  of bringing the first copies of the book across Galway Bay to the islanders ('Aran Delivery'). Among others present at the launch that day were Frank and Mary Imbusch, Michael D. and Sabina Higgins, Proinsias de Rossa, John de Courcy Ireland, Joe O'Halloran, Seosamh Ó Cuaig, Paul Walsh, Paddy Keady (Pádraig Ó Céidigh), and the book's editors, John Waddell, Anne Korff and Jeff O'Connell.