Cilian Ó Brolcháin and Tom O'Connor, PhD conferring, 1961
Item
Format
JPEG
Title
Cilian Ó Brolcháin and Tom O'Connor, PhD conferring, 1961
Identifier
VH0069
Depiction
Two men in academic gowns against the backdrop of a grey Gothic revival building.
Description
On the left is Cilian Ó Brolcháin (1905–1976), who gained his BSc in UCD in 1925 and his MSc in 1926, after which he studied under Nobel prizewinner V.F. Hess in Graz. Following a period as lecturer in UCG, he was appointed to the chair of Experimental Physics there in 1934. He served as Dean of Science and took a keen interest in the teaching of science and other disciplines through Irish. He married Mairéad Coughlan, 'a former schools inspector in domestic science and native Irish-speaker from Macroom, Co. Cork' (DIB). Among their children was Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin (1955–2015), the distinguished specialist of medieval Irish language and literature, and political activist. In 1973, ill health obliged Cilian Ó Brolcháin to retire (Ainm.ie).
On the right, Tom O'Connor (1931-2012), who had been appointed a lecturer in Physics in 1956, is seen here on the day of his PhD conferring. Featured in several photographs in this Collection (q.v.), he was a leading figure in his field and is particularly noted for the creation of the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station.
On the right, Tom O'Connor (1931-2012), who had been appointed a lecturer in Physics in 1956, is seen here on the day of his PhD conferring. Featured in several photographs in this Collection (q.v.), he was a leading figure in his field and is particularly noted for the creation of the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station.
People
Cilian Ó Brolcháin
Tom O'Connor
References
- Diarmuid Breathnach, Máire Ní Mhurchú, 'Ó Brolcháin, Cilian (1905–1976)', Ainm.ie, https://www.ainm.ie/Bio.aspx?ID=2149, accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
- Liz Evers, 'Ní Bhrolcháin, Muireann', in Dictionary of Irish Biography, https://www.dib.ie/biography/ni-bhrolchain-muireann-a10264, accessed 4.12.2023.
- S. Gerard Jennings, 'Thomas C. O’Connor (1931–2012)', Aerosol Science and Technology, 47:3 (2013), 348-349, DOI: 10.1080/02786826.2013.755439.
Contributor
Bibliographic Citation
F. Imbusch, J. Conroy, ‘Cilian Ó Brolcháin and Tom O'Connor, PhD conferring, 1961’, Visual History Retired Staff Collection, University of Galway Digital Collections, Asset Id 14355, Archival Record Id VHRS
Spatial Coverage
Temporal Coverage
Period
1960s
Category
colour
portrait
on-campus
outdoors
Language
English
Irish
Creator
Frank Imbusch
Publisher
University of Galway Library
Rights
This image may be used for non-commercial purposes under CC BY-NC-SA see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/