TALLAGHT GRADUATES
Newsletter for graduates and friends of ITT Dublin - Winter 2007
News & Profiles
Features from
graduates, the
Institute and staff
The Harambee
Scholarship Fund
How an ITT Dublin
initiative assists poverty
stricken students in Africa
The Seanad
The scandal of the
election process
and why ITT Dublin
graduates can’t vote!
Contents
Foreword from President
4
Features
The Harambee Scholarship Fund.
18
The Seanad - The scandal of the election process
26
Snakes and Reptiles - ITT Dublin staff members and their pets 36
Rant Corner! 38
News From the Graduates Association
Second Graduates Association Ball
6
Re-Unions & Events 8
New Graduates Association website 9
Bank of Ireland Item of the Month Competition launched 10
Institute News
Lifelong Learning at ITT Dublin 11
ITT Dublin attains Delegated Authority 12
Humanities and cooking successes 13
Annual Feel Good Day 2007 14
Recently published books 15
Liaising with the students of the future 16
6
Graduate Profiles
Kieran Bates - Graduate and pub-owner in Austria 20
Report from international conference in Slovakia 23
Picture Perfect. Pearl Phelan - Graduate and photographer 24
18
Research and Innovation
Research and Innovation at ITT Dublin 28
New ‘Synergy’ Business Incubation Centre open at ITT Dublin 32
News from the Clubs and Societies
News on all ITT Clubs and Societies activities
34
Campus Development
Details on the new campus development plans
40
28
Acknowledgements:
Editorial:
Gareth Ebbs / Marie Kielty / John Vickery
Cover Photos: Vincent Lennon and Brian MacCormaic
Design by:
Matt, Horizon Graphics / Tel: (353 1) 868 1257
matt@horizongraphics.ie
Printed by:
Business 2 Print / Tel: (353 1) 867 0143
www.business2print.ie
Contact the Graduates Association:
ITT Dublin Graduates Association, ITT Dublin, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland
Tel:
(353 1) 404 2107
Email: gradassociation@ittdublin.ie
Web:
graduates.ittdublin.ie
34
Newsletter 2007
A message from the President
Dear Graduates,
Believe it or not it is now fifteen years since the first of you
At the beginning of 2007 we received a very substantial
entered the Institute as young students. It has been an
company donation to enable us to establish a network
exciting time. The Institute has expanded from an initial
of supports for the schools in our region. We have also
cohort of seven hundred students to a current complement,
received major funding from the Strategic Innovation Fund
full and part-time, of almost four thousand students. We have
to develop the whole teaching environment. Through these
witnessed from the start the development of the worldwide
projects we are playing a lead role in raising participation
web and of mobile technologies. We have seen the Celtic
rates in Higher Education in the region.
tiger grow and mature. We have seen the human genome
project almost completed and the Berlin Wall come down.
We have continued to work with the Department of Education
To quote the phrase ‘We live in interesting times’.
and Science on the Campus Development Programme
and we are still on target to have this completed in 2011.
The last twelve months have seen quite a few developments.
We will have completed our first five year Strategic Plan at
We opened the new business incubation centre, Synergy.
the end of 2008. During the next twelve months we will be
Any of you who feel that you are budding entrepreneurs
contacting many of you for your ideas and suggestions for
should contact the Centre Manager Nicola Mountford. She
the 2009 to 2013 plan.
has a range of supports in place for small businesses. The
Institute is the lead partner in a research project funded by
Finally let me wish each of you a very happy and successful
the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions. This is a
2008.
€10million project which will enable us to establish a Centre
of Excellence in Health Science with a view to enabling us
to translate the very excellent research work taking place in
the Institute into the clinical environment.
4
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Dr. Tim Creedon
President, ITT Dublin
Newsletter 2007
Message from Chairman,
It gives me great pleasure to introduce the second
Graduates Association Newsletter for ITT Dublin. The
first edition was very well received and as the Association grows the benefits of membership will become more evident.
Don’t forget in addition to the personal benefits
and the ability to contact some old college friends,
membership can also benefit your career. Many
graduates that I talk to tend to fall into three categories: working in their area of study and enjoying
it, working in their area of study and not enjoying it
and graduates who are no longer working in the
area that they studied. By maintaining contact with
the college we can: keep you informed on career
opportunities in your area, highlight potential career paths for you having guided graduates with
similar circumstances and highlight opportunities
Welcome
to
the
second
Graduates
Association
Newsletter. As before we have tried to produce an
interesting publication with varied content that should
make sure there is a little something for everyone to
enjoy.
It’s hard to believe it’s more than two years since our
official launch by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern in October
2005 and a lot as happened since then. One of the most
fundamental developments and a great success, has
been the implementation of the exclusive Association
website. We now have over one thousand registered
online members which is a terrific achievement in this
short space of time. This provides a great interface for
graduates for each-other and with the Institute with
regular bulletins about college news and events, online
competitions, surveys and more.
Among many others, included in this issue is an interesting
for further study to enhance your career options
feature on the Harambee Scholarship Fund, an ITT Dublin
It costs nothing but a little time to register for the
Nairobi, Kenya to continue their education to 3rd level. A
Association and with the excellent careers service
in the college - it is time well spent. Obtaining your
qualification was only the first step in what we hope
is a long and successful career, let ITT Dublin work
with you throughout your career not just at the beginning.
Dr. Mark Glynn
Chairperson
initiative which is assisting poverty-stricken students in
fine example of how ITT Dublin assists people in areas well
beyond day to day undergraduate education
Thank you all for your support and anyone who has
contributed to this production or attended any of our
events in recent times. We hope you enjoy the newsletter
and look forward to meeting you soon at our next event.
Gareth Ebbs
Graduates Association Officer
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
5
Graduate Association News
2nd Graduates
Association
Ball held at the
Tower Hotel,
Tallaght on
9th November
2007
After our launch in Jurys Hotel in 2005,
Graduates Association Officer, Gareth
for the residents bar but everyone had
this night on the 9th November 2007
Ebbs and President of ITT Dublin, Dr Tim
one thing in common and that was
had a lot to live up to and people
Creedon.
a thoroughly entertaining evening in
were not disappointed. Greeted by a
good company. Sincere thanks to our
beautifully decorated reception area
Dinner
on the Mezzanine level of the hotel,
loosened
an
Solutions and to the Tower Hotel and
guests emerged from the lifts to be
excellent meal served by a courteous
their staff for facilitating a cracking
treated to a champagne reception
and helpful Tower Hotel staff. As dessert
night and a memorable occasion.
and the warmly received barbershop
was being finished, Chairman of the
quartet which added a fun, original
Association, Dr Mark Glynn, spoke and
feel to the beginning of the night.
announced the winners of the draw
was
as
served
many
and
tongues
enjoyed
which included a weekend for two in
a Tower Hotel, two Nivea hampers and
a Nintendo DS system sponsored by
Accenture Technology Solutions.
It was then the band Revenge took to
the stage and the night really came
to life. With fantastic musicianship and
boundless energy, (the lead singer quite
often spent more time in the audience
than on stage during some songs),
they had the dance-floor full within
6
After the ice was broken, guests were
two songs and it remained that way
ushered in to the main Ballroom which
until after midnight when they wound
was stunningly presented with balloons,
up an enthralling set of hits new and
multi-media presentations and various
old. It was fantastic to see graduates
treats on the tables to keep those
and staff so entertained and great to
with a sweet tooth happy. Many
see some of the more senior members
thanks to our main sponsor Accenture
still have the moves - long may it last!
Technology Solutions for their generous
With the departure of the band, a DJ
contribution towards the night which
brought the occasion to a close with
put the icing on the cake in many
great tunes into the wee hours. Some
respects. Speeches followed from The
headed for taxis, while many headed
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
main sponsor Accenture Technology
Graduate Association News
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
7
Graduate Association News
Catching Up...
Re-unions held in 2006/2007
was outstanding and his collegiality priceless. Enjoyed by
with Association members and staff from the Accountancy
Department, the celebrations continued to the early hours
with dinner, drinks and music. From all of the staff and
graduates at ITT Dublin we would like to wish Seamus the
best of luck in his retirement and thank him sincerely for his
great contribution to the Institute.
Science
On Thursday 22nd of March 2007 a small Science re-union
was held at the Bleeding Horse bar in Dublin. A €100 dinner
voucher for the Elephant and Castle restaurant was also
Accountancy
presented to a lucky draw winner on the night. Thanks
The first ever Association event was held on Thursday 27th
sincerely to all who turned out!
April 2006 at the Davenport Hotel. It was an Accountancy
Graduates re-union night and a wonderful time was had
Given the young age of the association and the
by over 80 people well into the wee hours. Thanks to Martin
comparatively small but ever-growing number of members
Nolan, Tom Stone, Patricia Morris and Marie Noonan at
at the moment, it’s difficult to run faculty-specific events due
the Department of Accountancy and Professional Studies for
to numbers however rest assured we are very interested in
organising the event and to all those who attended.
organizing events for any group no matter how small so if
you are interested in organizing a re-union and want the
Wednesday the 13th of September 2006 also marked the
assistance of the Graduates Association Office in organising
retirement of Senior Accountancy Lecturer Seamus McCabe
and running the event contact the Office at (01) 404 2107 or
with a lively send off on Thursday the 14th at The Plaza Hotel,
email gradassociation@ittdublin.ie.
Tallaght. Seamus was here in ITT Dublin since the doors
opened in 1992 and during that time Seamus’ contribution
Grubs up! 2 for 1 Special
2 main courses for the price of one
for Association members at San Giovannis Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria in Tallaght!
Bring your membership card. Certain restrictions may apply (don’t bring the football team!)
Ristorante San Giovanni - Tel: (01) 4630960
8
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Graduate Association News
We’re online - do tell a friend!
The new exclusive ITT Dublin Graduates Association website and members
community is launched in October 2006
In October 2006 we launched our
longer-established
brand
Association
be very proud of so thanks sincerely
website at http://graduates.ittdublin.
to those who continue to support the
ie”. This was the culmination of many
Association.
new
exclusive
Institutes
would
months of planning and discussions
and we were delighted that the
Features on the site also include latest
Institute recognised and continues
news, careers service, jobs listings,
to
recognise
discounts, item of the month winners
for
a
the
requirement
comprehensive
communication
platform
interactive
to
and much more.
the email address(s) you wish to tell,
click the button and we do the rest!
help
achieve everything we wish to do
We rely on people like you to tell as
now and in the coming years. Since
many people as you can about the
So go on, don’t wait - get out there
then over one thousand ITT Dublin
Association and one of the easiest
and tell a friend!
people have signed up online and
ways to do this is the ‘tell a friend’
this grows on a daily basis. This is an
facility which you can access in your
outstanding
profile – all you have to do is input
uptake
which
many
visit: http://graduates.ittdublin.ie
Fantastic Career Opportunities
Located in Baldoyle, Dublin in close proximity to Dublin Airport and only a five-minute walk from Howth Junction
DART Station. The company has been in operation since 1986 and currently manufactures 2 billion tablets /
capsules per year with significant New Product Introductions fuelling further growth. We are seeking to recruit
high calibre graduates who are looking for genuine opportunities to develop their careers.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Quality Control Analysts
Senior Quality Control Analysts (HPLC/GC experience)
Weekend Work ~ Senior QC Analysts (HPLC/GC experience)
Laboratory IT Analyst – Chemistry background with experience in laboratory IT systems.
Research & Development Analysts
Compliance / QA Officers
Maintenance Technicians (Shift Work)
Process Engineer - Graduate with 1 year’s previous pharmaceutical manufacturing/process development experience essential.
Excellent terms and conditions are on offer to successful candidates!
To apply, please forward a detailed CV, in strict confidence to: Human Resources Department, Gerard
Laboratories, 80 Baldoyle Industrial Estate, Grange Road, Dublin 13. Tel: +353-1-8398600
Email: recruitment@gerardlabs.net
Gerard Laboratories is an equal opportunities employer
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
9
Graduate Association News
Bank of Ireland ‘Item of the Month’
competition for members launched
in April 2007
The first competition featured a roll-over month and our
first ever winner of a €100 voucher was Jason MacCormac
(grad 2006) who sent in the photograph (left) that he took
of Dun Laoghaire at sunset. You can also see some of the
other entries received over the last few months. Best of luck
to all future entrants and thanks again to Bank of Ireland,
Tallaght for their great support of the Association since its
inauguration in 2005.
Be sure to get your entries in every month, it could be the
easiest €50 you ever win. Email: gradassocation@ittdublin.
ie with your item and it’s as simple as that! You can enter as
many times as you want every month.
In April 2007 we announced the Bank of Ireland ‘Item of
the Month’ Competition which was held for the first time in
May. Item of the Month is a competition run each month
for registered members and was made possible due to
For more information visit the Item
of the Month webpage at:
http://graduates.ittdublin.ie/
?boiitemofthemonth
the generous sponsorship of Bank of Ireland, Tallaght who
provide a €50 An Post ‘oneforall’ voucher every month to
the winner. Items accepted are many and varied but have
so far typically included photographs and news items.
Photographs from left to right:
Mountain in Whisler, Canada - Paddy Butler
Cavtat Croatia - Philip Matson
Swans at The Claddagh in Galway - Úna Prendergast
Tornado in Florida - Mark Beatty
Skydive over Heuston - Glyn Evans
10
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Institute News
Lifelong Learning at ITT Dublin and the
challenges ahead
and evening during the week. A number of courses are also
delivered ‘in-company’ to remove the need to commute to
the college. The response from students has been very positive
so we are now looking at other ways we can provide this kind
of flexibility to all students.
Students at the Institute now reflect our multicultural society. The
Department of Lifelong Learning has put particular initiatives in
place to ensure that students who, for example, may not have
English as their first language can access a drop-in support
centre help them to successfully complete their course.
To be successful in the workplace of today individuals need a
range of competencies that combine business and technical
expertise with excellent inter and intra personal skills. There is
also a need for individuals to update their skills regularly to keep
abreast of change. The new National Framework of Qualifications
has given ITT Dublin the flexibility to build programmes tailored
With increased emphasis being put on buzzwords like ‘lifelong
to the specific needs of individual workplaces. The Department
learning’ and ‘knowledge economies’ in high social circles and
of Lifelong Learning is looking at ways to use the opportunities
a key feature in the strategic goals of third-level organisations,
provided by the innovative award structures to accredit varied
attracting students for further study (or indeed their first step in
sizes of learning-blocks and to rapidly meet the needs of the
to the 3rd level world) has never been more important. Highly
workforce.
qualified graduates are viewed as a vital ingredient in what
brought the economy to the
Over
dizzy heights of recent years
registered
and what can help sustain it
Department of Lifelong
in what are arguably seen as
Learning
challenging times ahead. Here
Many of these students,
newly
like you, had originally
appointed
ITT
Dublin
graduated
Head of Lifelong Learning, Dr.
Terry
Maguire,
explains
the
challenge.
1600
students
with
last
the
year.
from
ITT
Dublin and had returned to continue their lifelong learning
journey. If you are thinking about committing further to your
own lifelong learning please give us a call, you can be assured
“A year ago ITT Dublin appointed me as Head of the
of our full help and support”.
department of Lifelong Learning, a new department setup to
develop the Institute’s existing part-time provision. Since then
For any queries on courses and to request a part-time
we have established a dedicated part-time student information
prospectus contact the part-office at (01) 404 2101 or email
desk and have begun to provide more flexibility to promote
lifelonglearning@ittdublin.ie
lifelong learning for all.
For further information you can also visit: www.ittdublin.ie/
Due to the hectic pace of life these days’, juggling work, family
PartTimeCourses.
and a part-time study commitment can be really challenging.
The Institute has been looking at ways that we can make our
Dr. Terry Maguire, Head of Lifelong Learning, ITT Dublin.
courses more flexible to help students pursue lifelong learning.
Ph: (01) 404 2771 • Email: terry.maguire@ittdublin.ie
One pilot initiative gives students the opportunity to choose their
own time table as lectures are repeated at different times, day
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
11
Institute News
Stepping into the Driving Seat
ITT Dublin attains Delegated Authority and pushes for Delegated Authority in
Research
programme development, subject to regular review (every
5 years). This is in line with best international practice and
shows that the Institute is mature enough to take ownership
of the validating and awarding process for its educational
& training programmes.
This was a tremendous vote of confidence, a source of great
pride and it was due recognition for the dedicated work
put in by everybody since the Institute opened. The panel
were very complimentary of the standards and dedication
of all those they met during the audit. The Institute are now
continuing to seek delegated authority for research and
you can read more about this in the Research Section.
In June 2006 The Higher Education Authority and Training
Awards Council (HETAC) granted delegation of authority
to the Institute to make awards for all of the HETAC taught
programmes from Higher Certificate up to taught Masters
Level. HETAC has now adopted as one of its functions the
ability to delegate authority to recognised institutions to
manage and make awards from their own programmes.
In this way HETAC recognises that where Institutes have
developed their capacity and processes to ensure quality
is consistently achieved in their programmes, they can now
take appropriate responsibility for those processes relating to
Finnstown are pleased to offer members a special discount rate of €100.00 for
a double room inclusive of full Irish breakfast. That’s a rate of only €50.00 per
person sharing, per night inclusive of full Irish breakfast. Finnstown House has had
the privilege of being awarded both AA and RAC merit awards and are the
highest rated County Dublin Hotel in its category. Facilities also include its own
fully equipped gymnasium, a Turkish bath, massage therapy, putting course, a
swimming pool and two tennis courts, as well as several woodland walks where
you can become acquainted with the resident donkeys and peacocks!
For more information see: www.finnstown-hotel.ie.
12
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Institute News
First ITT Dublin Graduates
Association membership
card – enclosed with this
issue!
Name:
ITT Dublin Graduates and Friends
Is a member of ITT Dublin
Graduates and Friends Association
T: +353 1 404 2107
E: gradassociation@ittdublin.ie
Enclosed with this newsletter you will find your brand
Tallaght / Dublin 24 / Ireland
Tamblacht / Baile Átha Cliath 24 / Éire
new ITT Dublin Graduates Association members card.
This is our very first membership card and on the back is
a space where you can sign your name to personalise.
We will be announcing further discounts from various
companies in the coming months. Some, like golfing and
Put it in your wallet!
motoring will require this card to be produced as proof
of membership.
Cooking up a storm
Humanities success stories in
2006/2007
In February 2007, second year Professional Cookery
Student, Alan McArdle, beat off all competition to win
the Knorr Young Chef of the Year 2007 Competition
which was held in Cork.
Andrew Mc Fadden, past student (2006) and past college
finalist in the Gordon Ramsay College Scholar (2006)
In
November
competed in the Gordon Ramsay Scholar Competition
ITT
this year. He was a semi-finalist in the practising chefs
Cookery
competition. Andrew was one of two Irish chefs in the 32
O’Hara went to the 19th
chef semi-final (from over 700 applications) and was also
Annual
chosen to compete in the final for the title of ‘Bailey’s
the
Young Chef of the Year 2007’
Européenne des Ecoles
Dublin
2006,
Professional
student
Sarah
Conference
AEHT
of
(Association
d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme
ITT Dublin Student Linda Kelly competed at the Gordon
Sarah O’Hara celebrating her gold medal
-
European
Association
Ramsay College Scholar Final live at the BBC Good food
of Hotel and Tourism Schools). This was a world event
Show. She was one of eight college finalists, the only chef
which took place in Killarney and Sarah came away
student from Ireland and was
with a gold medal in the management competition.
a great ambassador for the
She was presented with her award by the then Minister
Institute. Linda performed very
for Tourism, John O’Donoghue and the President of the
well under the watchful eye of
AEHT, Louis Robert.
the now infamous Ramsay, 10
delegates from all over Europe and as far as Mexico.
other
In total here were 35 countries represented and 135
Michelin-starred
and the general public. chefs
The event was attended by 650
colleges. This was a fantastic personal achievement for
Sarah and due acknowledgement for the excellent work
of the Humanities Department.
Sarah O’Hara and Alan McArdle
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
13
Institute News
Feel Good Day
Now in its 7th year the ITT Dublin annual “Feel Good Day”
was held in the Institute on Wednesday 2nd May. Presented
by the ITT Dublin Awareness Group which consists of Student
Services staff and the Students Union, it originally came
about due to the desire to do something a little different
for students and to alleviate some of the stress commonly
experienced by the students as they mark the end of the
academic year and the run-in to exams. Light relief is much
appreciated by students at this time!
With particular emphasis on well-being and health, it
featured fun-filled activities in and outside the college, as
well as many holistic treatments which were available to
students free of charge including: Indian head massage,
back massage, relaxation techniques, reflexology, Bach
remedies, cranio-sacral massage, vortex healing and
Chakra’s, polarity balancing, sports therapy/massage, Aura
Soma and manicures.
Outside the sun shone and students occupied themselves
with activities like mechanical bull riding and inflatable
bungee running and jousting. A barbeque was provided
for students and staff with music provided by the College
DJ Society and many partook and sat outside in the sun
chewing the fat well into the evening. Thanks to the
Awareness Committee who organized a great day and as
this article is being written, one wonders when we might get
a glimpse of that sun again? Here’s hoping!
14
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Institute News
Book Corner
Recently published books involving
ITT Dublin staff
The Welcome Business - New Tourism Book by ITT Dublin
Lecturer Glenn Mehta Launched
The Welcome Business is a text book written by ITT Dublin
lecturer and former student Glenn Mehta (pictured
2nd from left), aimed at students studying tourism and
hospitality as a subject or as a programme of study at third-
Eugene O’Brien (Limerick IT) entitled La France face
level colleges on the island of Ireland, and is published
à la mondialisation/France and the Struggle Against
by Gill & Macmillan. It was launched by Minister of State
Globalization (New York: The Edwin Mellen Press).
Conor Lenihan at the Institute on Tuesday 15th May 2007.
Staying with the Franco-Irish theme, Wednesday 17th
The book brings together the key elements that combine
October 2007 also saw the launch of Reinventing Ireland
to make the unique Irish tourism experience, and discusses
Through a French Prism at the Alliance Francaise on
them with a strong focus on practical examples. The aim
Kildare Street. This was edited by Eamon Maher, Eugene
of the book is to aide lectures and classroom discussion
O’Brien and Grace Neville and is the first installment in
on what is a key indigenous sector contributing to the Irish
the Studies in Franco-Irish Relations series, which is a peer-
economy.
reviewed yearly book series that considers proposals
dealing with any relevant links - historical, cultural, literary,
The book is now available for purchase in bookshops and
sociological, political, linguistic – between the two Gallic
online from www.gillmacmillan.ie. For further information
cousins, France and Ireland.
please contact Glenn Mehta on (01) 404 2807 or Glenn.
Mehta@ittdublin.ie.
Adrian Millar, former ITT Dublin lecturer in languages,
At the 3rd Franco-Irish Conference in ITT Dublin, over the
published an academic book on Northern Ireland titled
10th and 11th of May 2007 Mr. Fintan O’Toole (The Irish
‘Socio-ideological fantasy and the Northern Ireland
Times) launched a book co-edited by ITT Dublin Lecturer
conflict’ (Manchester University Press, December, 2006).
and Director of the National Centre of Franco Irish Studies
More details at http://adrianmillar.ie.
(NCFIS) Eamon Maher (pictured on far left below) and
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
15
Institute News
Focused on the future
ITT Dublin Primary Schools Programme:
This new initiative started in 2007 in an attempt to encourage
primary school students in the local area to stay in school
and consider the world of opportunity open to them by
continuing their education to 2nd and 3rd level. It involves
5th class pupils in eight local Primary Schools. ITT staff visited
each of the schools to find out what the children thought
their futures held for them. Some have high aspirations, but
many do not, so a visit to their local third level college can
be a great way of encouraging them to consider higher
education. The children spend a school day in the Institute,
working with ITT staff in a range of activities: Science,
Engineering, Marketing, TV Production, Languages, and
Nurturing relationships with
primary schools and future
ITT Dublin students
many more. So far, the children have enjoyed themselves
hugely, and so have their teachers!
Since the very start, much emphasis has been placed on
forging relationships with primary schools in the locality and
indeed throughout Dublin. For ITT Dublin it is never too early
to interact with the students of the future and it has never
been more relevant in these days of high-competition
among 3rd level Institutes and with the importance of
sustaining Ireland’s economy in the future. This work could
not be done without the valuable contribution of the Schools
Liaison Office which began its work in November 2005.
For ITT Dublin it’s never too early to
interact with the students of the
future
16
For school students the process of choosing what to study
Computer Game Design School
at third level can be a daunting one and the schools liaison
The Department of Computing launched a Computer Game
office provides the information they need to make the
Design Summer School for Transition Year and Fifth Year
decision easier by informing them about all the courses
students which took place from Tuesday June 5th to Friday
and activities, academic and social, on offer in ITT Dublin.
June 8th in the state of the art Interactive Media Lab in the
This is done through school visits, campus tours, career
Institute. Students had an opportunity to attend lectures on
events/exhibitions and the Institute’s Open Day. Other
different aspects of computer game design with practical
initiatives that people may not know about are also featured
lab activities where students used game development tools
below:
in a hands-on environment.
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Institute News
Cuba cycle
ITT Dublin graduates to cycle
across Cuba in aid of Cancer
support
SciFest 2007
SciFest is a one-day festival of science, mainly for the Dublin
area, which includes a competition and exhibition of projects
from second-level schools of all years. Started in 2005/2006,
this year’s SciFest was held on Friday 4th May. The purpose
of the exhibition is to give students an opportunity to display
their work and win prizes. Participation in the exhibition is
a valuable learning experience for the students involved
and helps promote an interest in science in the school. It
is also anticipated that students would be encouraged to
Some have high aspirations, but
many do not, so a visit to their
local third level college can be a
great way of encouraging them to
consider higher education.
develop their project for entry to the BT Young Scientist &
Technology Exhibition (January 2008). SciFest is specifically
aimed at students in Tallaght and the surrounding areas
but of course students from all of Dublin are welcome.
The day also includes formal lectures on exciting areas of
science, less formal laboratory demonstrations and handson activities, tours of the
laboratories,
together
with advice on careers
and the relevant course
options in ITT-Dublin. For
more information contact
Dr. Brian Murray at: brian.
murray@ittdublin.ie.
www.charitycycle.com
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
17
Institute News
The Harambee Scholarship Fund
An ITT Dublin initiative established in 2006 is assisting students
in poverty-stricken Mukuru, Nairobi, Kenya to continue their
education to 2nd level.
Brian MacCormaic, currently based in
Mukuru as manager of the Mukuru Slums
Community Development Programme,
gives a typical account of what the
programme is up against and a stark
reminder of what we take for granted
in modern day Ireland.
Nairobi, 2007
Hawo is 3rd-born in a family of
eight who live in a tiny single room
‘mabati’ or corrugated iron house, in
LungaLunga slum village, Mukuru. They
often go without food, and depend on
the primary school or well-wishers for
support. Hawo is a good student, but
has foregone secondary education for
the past two years. Without scholarship,
Hawo was to have been married off
for her ‘bride-wealth’ and to ease the
burden on the family.
This is the same for thousands of children
in Mukuru who have little hope except
early marriage and a life of destitution
and struggle to keep themselves and
their children alive. But for those selected
to receive a HARAMBEE scholarship,
they look forward to a brighter future
with a chance of employment. In the
slum districts, children fight against many
obstacles to remain in primary school,
let alone continue into secondary.
Poor morale and commitment of staff
18
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
The children have no access to
computers
or
learning
materials
like books or libraries. Lack of basic
equipment like desks, books, charts or
computers. Cramped conditions at
home, lack of electricity, and general
noise and mayhem living in the slum
environment.
Poor
nutrition
and
healthcare means children cannot
concentrate fully on their lessons and
frequently miss school due to sickness
and disease. Underage pregnancy and
marriage, drug and alcohol abuse, poor
motivation, and many other factors.
Girls suffer the additional burdens
of being expected to carry out the
household chores to assist their mothers;
they must face the dangers of rape and
abuse; and in many cultures, educating
girls is seen as a wasted investment by
their parents because they will bring
any ‘added value’ to another family
when they marry.
Also, because secondary school
placements are based on a points
system, children from the slums are
expected to compete with children
from more prosperous segments of
society to gain a place. Unsurprisingly,
few can ever hope to aspire to
secondary school, let alone continue
into university.
In 2003, the government of Kenya
introduced free primary education for
all, alleviating hardship on thousands
of families struggling to pay fees to
educate their children. However, as this
much lauded scheme was not extended
to include secondary education as
well, it created many more problems
than it solved. The huge influx enrolled
in primary has created a bottle-neck of
children striving for places in secondary.
Even where children from the slums
achieve sufficient points to receive a
place in secondary though, few families
afford the fees, small by our standards
but hopelessly out of reach for them.
This is where the HARAMBEE Scholarship
Fund comes in. The selection committee
for the fund is made up of teachers
and social workers from the six main
primary schools in Mukuru. Living in
the slums, they are nominated by their
head teachers for proven long-term
commitment and deep involvement
in community development. When the
children are selected, the committee
maintains a close link with them and
their families, monitoring progress
closely, although sensitively, to ensure
that they are performing to their best
ability and receiving the support they
need from their parents and families.
Institute News
These children are bright, intelligent
and resourceful, and show a warmth
and respect often lacking in children
of a similar age in Western society. Yet
because of their circumstances, some
are destined to grow up into a continuing
cycle of poverty, disease and hunger.
Unquestionably, this scholarship will
provide their best chance of escape
and true liberation and a future with
some hope.
We in Ireland know the value of
education, and how it helped to
improve our economy and our standard
of living. It’s not too long ago since we
were classed as a Third World economy,
and it was primarily through investment
in education that we were able to pull
ourselves out of that situation. Now we
can help make a difference to the lives
of those less fortunate than ourselves,
by giving them the one gift that will
remain with them throughout their lives,
- a fully rounded and comprehensive
education.
“It is only through education that we
can truly free the people from their
poverty. Then, when they have been
liberated, they can return to the slums
to liberate others”
- Prof George Saitoti, Kenyan Minister
for Education, Science and Technology
in 2003, during an interview with two
AV students from IT Tallaght - Gráinne
O’Connell and Carol Fitzmaurice.
travelled to Mukuru. Their time there
included visits to 6 schools in the area
as well as many more unforgettable
memories. Chemistry Postgraduate
student Sarah Maher recounts only a
small part of what they achieved and
experienced on the trip:
We went to the schools and presented
gifts such as laptops, football strips,
footballs, GAA balls, lego, teddys, t-shirts
and pens. On each visit the students put
on small talent shows like choir singing,
poetry recital, gymnastics or dancing….
and they always got us up to dance with
them! One of the choirs had won many
different competitions to become the
best ranked school choir in the whole
of Kenya, they were amazing. We also
did a day trip with about 15 scouts to
Nairobi National Park. It was great to see
their faces light up when they saw the
animals. We brought packed lunches
for everyone and then did facepainting
with the scouts who painted ours too, it
was a great day!
Contact Brian MacCormaic:
brian.maccormaic@gmail.com
ITT Dublin Staff and
students visit Mukuru
Slums
Following the first trip by ITT Dublin staff,
students and graduates in 2004 (the front
cover features graduates Keith Norris
and Seadna Long on Mount Kilimanjaro
during this trip), in May 2007 a group of
12 ITT Dublin staff members and students
who raised considerable sponsorship
for The Harambee Scholarship Charity
Reminders of their day to day struggles
are never far away though we also saw
encouraging signs of development.
One of the schools we visited had a
rehabilitation centre for boys in the
same grounds. The centre takes in
boys from the neighbouring slums for
rehabilitation that may be addicted
to drugs or absent from school. They
also focus on educating them and
teaching them crafts. The boys attend
many classes and we were able to buy
some of the handpainted cards and
handmade jewellery they had made.
We also visited a place called Rescue
Dada which is a rescue centre for
abandoned or abused girls. While at
Rescue Dada they are cared for and
taught different classes so they have
an education when they leave. It’s
fantastic work they do there. When we
went there we skipped, danced, sang
and did more facepainting with the
girls. They were so lovely it was hard to
believe the terrible backgrounds they
came from” – Sarah Maher
To date, 22 children from the slums of
Mukuru have been assisted by the
Harambee fund and selected and
enrolled in local secondary schools
through the programme. This is made
possible by the generosity of our
benefactors at the Institute and
surrounding areas and they rely on your
support to continue this programme.
If you want to know more or wish to
make a donation contact Sr Elizabeth
Gilmartin
(chaplain):
Elizabeth.
gilmartin@ittdublin.ie. Ph: 01 404 2615,
Mob: 087 9889096. If you are an ITT
Dublin employee and wish to make a
monthly donation contact Ann Marie
Grant at ann.marie@ittdublin.ie.
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
19
Graduate Profiles
“Are you
right
there folks?”
by Kieran Bates, Computing, 1992
The Old Dubliner Irish Pub
Gruss Gott!
Kieran Bates with Austrian Beer Pope holding best Beer Pub in Upper Austria 2004
As a computing student in Tallaght RTC (as it was then) in its
opening year, I would like to fill you in with where I am now.
Events with the Brewery Society and Students Union made
Well, regarding my studies, unfortunately I never actually
me realise that perhaps a future in Cobol programming just
received my certificate as a result of spending too much
was not on the cards! I am very grateful for the patience of
time in the common room, Students Union and Molloys! With
all lecturers that had the misfortune of having to put up with
fellow students Andrew Tully, John Maher and Peter Sheerin
me!! I would also like to mention that my stay at Tallaght RTC
to name but a few, we set up the first society in Tallaght RTC
was made easier and very pleasurable due to the presence
of the late Johnny Nolan whom we will never forget for his
“Events with the Brewery Society
and Students Union made me realise
that perhaps a future in Cobol
programming just was not on the
cards!”
unique humour. May he rest in peace.
namely ‘The Brewery Society’ which hosted the Colleges first
brewery as he was in 1992! Fast forward to January 2007 in Dublin, on a tour I had
organised for forty of my beloved Austrian customers and
who do we meet but the Tallaght RTC beer rep Mel Larkin
who has gone back to his roots and is working for the same
ever event ‘The Boat Race’ in September 1992. The society
never gained full recognition by the College but proved to
And so to the Austrian part of the tale. I moved to Linz
be very popular with students!
(Austrias 3rd City) in February 1997 to manage a newly
opened Irish Pub in the city.
20
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Graduate Profiles
As an industrial city, Linz sometimes lacks the tourist
stampede of other places like Salzburg and Vienna but the
inner city is quite beautiful and still has a great traditional
feel despite having recently experienced a major overhaul
in anticipation of the forthcoming ‘Linz 2009’ and its status
as a European culture capital.
“the inner city is quite beautiful and
still has a great traditional feel”
Kieran outside Chelsea pub
The city boasts ‘Ars Electronica’ www.aec.at, a cyber-
In 2005 I opened my second bar, Chelsea Pub, an
museum, that is amongst the best of its kind in Europe and
international sports bar. The idea was born while sitting
recently LASK Linz football team were promoted back into
in a beer-garden in Wexford in 2004 with fellow Tallaght
the Bundesliga after a 6 year absence. The city has always
RTC student Colin Delaney who became more and more
been almost crime-free and the people of Linz are a friendly,
persuasive after each pint we drank together! So truly I do
welcoming bunch, who also enjoy sampling a bit of Irish
have a lot to thank Tallaght RTC for - if only I had stuck with
culture whether it’s sipping a ‘pint of Plain’ in an Irish pub or
the optional after-hours German course! Present projects
popping over for a trip with Ryanair. The town is like a large
include launching my own range of Schnapps and selling
village based on one main pedestrian street.
Austrian food in the pubs of Ireland... watch this space in
the coming months! I am also involved in importing various
other products to Ireland so if anyone needs some quality
Austrian products, look no further and please don’t hesitate
to contact me!!
Regards,
Kieran Bates
The Celtic Foodstore
Not a day passes when you don’t bump into someone you
know on the road. Linz provides the perfect location for a
weekend break or a base to discover the other areas in
this Alpine region. It’s the perfect destination if you’re
looking for very warm summers or skiing in the winter! Most
folks coming here from Dublin are surprised by the cheap
prices of food and drink with a pint at about 3 euros and a
main course from about 6-10 euros.
In December 1999 I opened my own pub The Old Dubliner,
a small and cosy pub with unrivalled TV sports coverage,
Austria’s best choice of Irish whiskies and over 60 different
beers. In 2004 the pub won ‘Best Beer Pub in Upper-Austria’
and in 2006, ‘Best Irish Pub in Austria’. In 2001 I opened The
Celtic Foodstore, a shop selling Irish foods, drinks and gifts
which I import myself from Dublin. We also supply other Irish
Contact Kieran at The Old Dubliner Pub
email: kieranbates@hotmail.com
theolddubliner@hotmail.com
web: www.theolddubliner.com
tel:
+43 (0) 70 776202
Address:
Hauptplatz 15 , A-4020 Linz , AUSTRIA
pubs in Austria.
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
21
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Graduate Profiles
Venkat Reddy
Thangella
Venkat is a Postgraduate Researcher with
the Centre for Pharmaceutical Research and
Development (CPRD) at ITT Dublin. Here he
reports on his recent trip to the XXI International
Conference on Coordination and Bioinorganic
Chemistry in Bratislava, Slovakia.
plenary
lecture
on
“Coumarin-Metal
Complexes,
Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activity” covering coumarin
metal complexes and their biological applications. On
day 2 Prof. J. Mrozinski from Poland (University of Wroclaw)
gave a very interesting talk entitled “Heterobimetallic and
Mixed–Valance Coordination Compounds”, providing an
in depth study of the magnetic properties of coordination
compounds. The third day included a very interesting talk
by the conference chairman Prof. Melnik from Slovakia
(Alexander Dubcek University), on the “Stereochemistry of
Copper Complexes and Their Bio-activity” and a lecture
by Dr. R. N. Patel from India (A. P. S. University) lecture
entitled “The Chemistry of Synthetic Models for Copper(II)
The Conference, entitled
“Achievements
in
Complexes and their Biochemical Relevance”.
Co-
ordination, Bioinorganic
That afternoon, an excursion was organised to a piano
and Applied Inorganic
concert, which was held at a castle in a nearby village.
Chemistry” was held at
The concert was followed by a wine tasting session. This
the Congress Centre of
social event helped participants to get to know each
the Slovak Academy of
other better and to network as well as providing the
Sciences in Smolenice
opportunity to learn more about Slovakia, its folk and
Castle,
customs.
Smolenice,
Bratislava from June 3-8,
2007 and was organised
by the Slovak Chemical
Society, Slovak Technical University, Comenius University,
Alexander Dubek University, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University,
and Slovak Academy of Sciences. The Castle was in a
picturesque location in the middle of the forest hills near
Smolenice village. Participants from 19 countries took part
including Ireland, where ITT Dublin was represented by Dr.
Bernie Creaven, (lecturer) Darius Karcz (postgraduate
researcher) and myself.
The 4-day conference was focused on up-to-date
achievements and problems of coordination, inorganic
On the final day of the conference, I presented a 10-
and bioinorganic chemistry with a different theme each
minute talk entitled “Schiff based Quinolin-2(1H)-ones
day. Every day the session opened with a main plenary
and their Copper(II) Complexes as Potential Antifungal
lecture presented by eminent scientists: M. Mikuriya
Agents” as part of the Young Scientist section. I am
(Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan), R. Slade (University of
very grateful to The Institute of Chemistry of Ireland (ICI)
Surrey), T. Szabó-Plánka (University of Szeged, Hungary),
for granting me a travel bursary award to attend this
and P. Day (Royal Institution of Great Britain). In addition
prestigious conference and for providing me with this
20 plenary lectures, 36 section lectures, 18 Young Scientist
great opportunity to present my first international talk in
lectures and 12 poster contributions were presented.
front of distinguished scientists from many countries and
During the conference hundreds of novel compounds
to network with first class researchers. Finally, I would like
were discussed. I attended a number of talks which were
to thank my supervisors, Dr. Maureen Walsh and Dr. Bernie
closely related to my area of research and found each to
Creaven for their tremendous support.
be fascinating and informative.
Further information on the conference can be obtained
On the first day Dr. Bernie Creaven presented an excellent
at: www.chtf.stuba.sk/kach/smolenice/
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
23
Graduate Profiles
Picture Perfect
Pearl Phelan – AV Grad 2005
and asked stupid questions and learned loads. They allowed
me to visit the photographer’s studio for a shoot of beauty
products and I was thrilled to be given the chance to lay
out the products creatively.
Well, they obviously got
sick of me in the office
so sent me away to the
photographer, and I got
to squeeze out the lipgloss
and spill the nail varnish.
Can I take your picture? How’d
Anyway, I did so with such
you like to be in the local
panache that I was allowed
paper? These days, people
to lay the shoes out for
don’t recognise me without a
the next shoot, as well as
chunk of black plastic made by
dressing the mannequin.
Canon attached to my face!
Eventually, it was me that
the editor sent to the shops
I’ve been a photographer for
to gather up the items
the best part of two years now, having graduated from ITT
to be photographed for
Dublin in 2005 with a BA Honours Degree in Audio Visual
both the fashion and interiors pages. I was the stylist for the
Media. You don’t really leave the course as a photographer,
Fashion and Home Style pages of Woman’s Way magazine
a director, or an animator; you become one through
for a year.
work experience. We experimented a lot in our four years
of college in Tallaght…yes of course I mean in different
Eventually, it was me that the editor
sent to the shops to gather up the
items to be photographed for both
the fashion and interiors pages
The game plan was to train up as a photographer and then
go back to shiny pretty magazines with both styling and
photography training. My first job as a photographer came
through my interest in drama. Tom Jenner, the much-loved
photography lecturer at ITT Dublin, had a friend in a theatre
company that wanted photos done but hadn’t a budget
for them. Tom saw that as a great opportunity for one of his
final year students to build up their portfolio.
aspects of media production and theory. However, it takes
‘real world’ experience in a working environment (and LOTS
of pots of tea) to become a media professional. Like most
industries, you have to start at the bottom, make the tea,
and observe how the business works.
Work experience in what may be thought of as a decidedly
‘untrendy’ women’s magazine was what inspired me to
concentrate on photography. It was the summer after
second year. I looked over the shoulder of the Picture Editor
24
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Graduate Profiles
I photographed an actor in costume for the poster, the cast
Lucan, Clondalkin, Blanchardstown and Dundrum, with the
and crew in rehearsals, and on stage at the dress rehearsal.
intention of further expansion in the foreseeable future.
The rehearsal photos were in the programme and the dress
rehearsal photos were mounted in the foyer of the theatre
ITT Dublin has been good to me, even giving me public
on opening night. The company sent the latter set of images
relations work for the college prospectus as I finished the
around as part of the drive for publicity, and I found one
fourth year of study, for which I used college equipment,
of my photographs in the Sunday Business Post and on the
and charged them - cheeky! The many photographers
cover of the Programme of Events pamphlet for Draiocht, a
and editorial staff at the various publications I’ve worked
theatre and arts centre in Blanchardstown. Thanks Tom!
for have been more than helpful and patient with a young
one starting out, and I intend to do the same for those who
I found one of my photographs in
the Sunday Business Post and on the
cover of the Programme of Events
pamphlet for Draiocht, a theatre
and arts centre in Blanchardstown
come after me. That’s the spirit of the Graduates Association
I suppose.
The Gazette (and all publications) needs freelance people
to cover when the staff members aren’t available, so I
contacted Tom in the Photography Department at ITT Dublin
to get the fourth years to send in CVs. The requirements
for press photography include a camera, a car and the
Other great portfolio-building opportunities (read: chances
to work for nothing) came along, and I grabbed them
with both hands. In all seriousness, who wants to hire a
photographer without seeing plenty of examples of their
ITT Dublin has been good to me,
even giving me public relations
work for the college prospectus as I
finished the fourth year of study
brazenness to approach strangers… and it’s great to see
that two more of Tom’s students are now on the books at
the Gazette.
Now I’ve an awful longing for a cup of tea…
Pearl Phelan
Pearlphelan@gmail.com
work? The whole pay peanuts – get monkeys attitude
doesn’t wash though, you’re only as good as your last job.
The Echo, the wonderful local newspaper, gave me a
chance to work and I’m really grateful to them. I covered
my own graduation for The Echo. Back in first year of
college, I managed to persuade Joe McCartney, a staff
photographer at the paper at the time, to bring me out
with him to get a taste of a ‘day in the life’ of a press
photographer. He was very kind and I learnt a lot that day
about dealing with people compassionately, as well as
picture-taking skills. Now I have a job as staff photographer
with Gazette Group Newspapers and Joe and I often share
a knowing nod when we meet at events both papers are
covering! The Gazette Group has four titles to date, in
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
25
Newsletter 2007
What is the Seanad?
And why can’t Tallaght Graduates vote for Seanad candidates?
‘Disgraceful’, ‘unconstitutional’, ‘shambolic’, ‘outdated’,
‘elitist’ – all words used to describe the longstanding
debacle on The Seanad elections which is becoming an
increasingly burning issue due to many high profile media
features of late slamming the election process for Ireland’s
upper house of parliament, Seanad Eireann.
David Norris outside the Dail
As a graduate of an Institute of Technology Tallaght,
University of Limerick or DCU you would be forgiven for being
confused as to who makes up members of the Seanad
and how they are elected. This will be at least partly due
Several hundred deceased people
are still registered to vote!
to the fact that only graduates of Trinity College and the
NUI have the privilege of voting for candidates while the
rest are left out in the cold by what has long been exposed
as a shambolic, undemocratic system of voting for Seanad
positions. Read on to find out how this disgraceful situation
is ongoing, how progress has been hindered by successive
governments and how it can be resolved.
An already raging inferno has been fanned further with
the recent revelation that several hundred deceased
people are still registered to vote! Procrastination and
incompetence by successive governments for nearly 30
years has meant this brimming situation is justifiably coming
to the boil in many corners of Irish society. Jason O’Toole
of Hotpress writes that “according to a new report by
Experian, the world’s largest data management company,
there are 680 deceased members still on the register, one
having graduated Trinity College in 1911 is estimated at 118
years old!”
26
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Out of a total of 60 Senate positions, 43 are elected by
the tiny elite of less than 1,000 county councillors. 11 are
appointed by the Taoiseach. The remaining 6 are voted for
in a postal ballot by graduates of Trinity College and the
NUI. In total, 155,000 ballot papers were sent out on June 19
and to be returned by July 24.
Trinity candidate Seán O’Connor who ran in the election
on a reform platform, which includes a call to open up
the election process says “The fact that only TCD and NUI
graduates are entitled to vote is extremely biased against
other graduates. In the 1930s, TCD and NUI covered all Irish
graduates, but today this covers less than half of them.
In 1979 the Irish people voted by way of a constitutional
amendment to give the Government the power to change
the law and include other graduates. It is now approaching
30 years since the people voted yes for reform – yet
successive governments have done nothing. The majority
of Irish people have little or no interest in the Irish Senate but
we can rectify this by opening the election to the general
public”
University candidates are elected exclusively by postal
vote. In the last election, in the NUI constituency an
astonishing 18,000 ballot papers were returned as being
“undeliverable”. Even more alarmingly, the report released
this week by Experian also reveals that the NUI register is 67%
incorrect, while the Trinity register of voters is 57% incorrect.
The fact that only TCD and NUI
graduates are entitled to vote is
extremely biased against other
graduates
In the 2002 elections, the NUI contained four registered
voters who had graduated between the years 1897 and
1899, while Trinity has no less than 29 who graduated in
the year 1900! O’Toole adds “The State fund certain costs
incurred by the candidates, for example issuing one canvas
letter per candidate to every graduate voter on the register.
With 11 candidates on the Trinity panel and 24 on the NUI
panel, over 1.8 million wasted letters may be posted during
this campaign according to Experian’s findings”
Newsletter 2007
O’Connor, who commissioned the report, believes this will
lead to the waste of approximately €600,000 of public
money. “This is a shambles”, O’Connor says, “I have been
seeking Senate reform for some time now, and I hope
that this new information will shock the Government into
taking action”. O’Connor has written to the Minister for
the Environment, John Gormley, who has responsibility
for elections, to propose that the State takes on the
management of the electoral register for graduate voters.
He has also provided the Minister with the Experian report
and has sought an urgent meeting with him.
Waste of approximately
€600,000 of public money
Critisism comes from many areas including USI President
Colm Hamrogue – “I’m elected to run the national union
of students but ironically I can’t vote in elections to the
is certainly fatally flawed, the quality of elected Senators is
certainly varied. This year’s successful candidates included
household names such as the radical David Norris who
was brought to prominence under the system and noted
Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology
at Trinity College Dublin and former Labour European
candidate Ivana Bacik. However as James O’Toole rightly
points out “for every radical voice, there are ten Senators
elected by the county councils…”
The advice is clear, highlight the unjust nature of this system
as often as possible and vote or give support to individuals
determined to implement change. Due to government
incompetence, you, as an Institute of Technology graduate
(or any other readers who are not entitled to vote), are
being deprived what should be a constitutional right and
you shouldn’t be happy about it.
Seanad as I graduated from IT Sligo. A horrid kind of elitism
is the issue. The criteria that establish franchise entitlements
should not be built on ‘college apartheid’. The democratic
legitimacy of the University Panel is compromised because
only graduates of the favoured colleges have the franchise.
An urgent priority for the new government must be to
legislate for the graduate equality in respect of Seanad
elections”
(Just prior to the design
DCU’s Graduate Research Director, Dr Gary Murphy, is also
reports emerged that
of this newsletter, press
Environment
in favour of change. Writing in DCU’s alumni magazine,
John
he stated “This (situation) is nothing short of a disgrace. It
announced
deprives DCU graduates of their constitutional rights to vote
in Seanad elections. As it stands, the members of Seanad
Eireann do not represent a wide cross-section of Irish politics.
The best way to make it happen is to use your Seanad vote
to support candidates who will strive to see Seanad reform
Minister
Gormley
he
had
was
determined to extend
voting rights to all third-level graduates with a degree
and was setting up an all-party group to come up with a
‘consensus approach’ for the reform plans. Naturally this is
enacted”
welcome news, however due to the strong resistance he
The good (bad) news is that over the last 70 years, no less
given the history of the campaign up to now, people would
will face within the political system to radical reform and
than 12 Senate reform reports have been drawn up by
be forgiven for not getting to excited)
the Oireachtas. While the validity of the election process
Graduate Competition – Win a 5GB MP3 player
ITT Dublin wants your feedback…
Log on to www.ittgraduatesurvey2007.ie to a survey currently online. As an ITT Dublin graduate the Careers Service would welcome
feedback on your experiences in the Institute, your views on what courses could be offered and how relevant your studies have been
in preparing you for your career? The strategic plan for ITT Dublin promises a tremendous future with major campus developments
planned. Can you take 2 minutes to complete an on-line questionnaire where you can add your opinions?
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G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
27
Research and Innovation
Research and Innovation at ITT Dublin
- going from strength to strength
Research and Innovation continue to take an increasingly prominent role in
the life of the Institute. Applied research leading to commercial outcomes is
the main focus but more fundamental research is also strong in the Science
and Technology and Humanities areas. Significant successes that occurred
during the year are detailed below.
the Institute on a national stage, and provides a major
opportunity for the future development and growth of
research… I would like to recognise and thank all of those
who contributed to the development of the proposal…
which would not have been successful today were it not
for the solid foundation and track record established by
collaborative projects under previous cycles of PRTLI and
other funding programmes involving the wider research
community at the Institute”
The aforementioned institutions associated with CASH
have a strong track record of collaboration in applied
/ translational research for specific areas of healthcare
(including Cycle 3 of PRTLI), and the three strongest
areas of collaboration formed the basis for the successful
proposal. These are:
ITT Dublin secures €9.26 million in PRTLI
funding for development of Centre of
Applied Science for Health (CASH)
The biggest success story of 2007 was the securing of
€9.26 million in funding under Cycle 4 of the Program for
Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI). Announced by
the Minister for Education on 3rd August 2007, €4.2 million
is ear-marked for the development of a Centre of Applied
Science for Health (CASH), in collaboration with Tallaght
Hospital (AMNCH), DCU National Institute for Cellular
Biotechnology, and NUI Maynooth. It will enable the
Institute to develop a new research building on campus
and fund a range of research projects.
In recognising this achievement, ITT Dublin Head of
Development, Pat Coman remarked “The success in PRTLI
is a significant step in affirming the quality of research in
28
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
1. Biomedical Devices
2. Strategies for Combating Difficult and Antimicrobial Resistant Pathogens
3. Translational Molecular Cell Biology Research
A blend of core and applied research is required to
advance knowledge in these areas to a point where
translation to an industrial or clinical environment can
begin. Each of the institutions will contribute in highly
complementary fashion to each research phase, with a
particularly strong clinical perspective being provided by
AMNCH.
CASH will leverage a wealth of expertise and capability
from ITT Dublin, DCU, NUIM and AMNCH to advance both
knowledge and technology relating to these areas of vital
importance to society.
Research and Innovation
Application for
Delegated Authority for
research
ITT Dublin recently submitted an application to the
First Ever ITT Dublin
Research and Innovation
Newsletter is Published in
2007
Higher Education Training Awards Council (HETAC),
2007 also saw the first ever re-
who award our research degrees, for ‘Delegated
search and innovation publica-
Authority (DA)’ to manage and make awards from
tion entitled ‘ITT Dublin Research
our own programmes. Since securing DA for all of the
and Innovation 2007’, a 40-page
HETAC taught programmes from Higher Certificate up
production detailing the many
to taught Masters Level in July 2006, ITT Dublin has since
faces of research and innova-
submitted a follow up DA application for the research
tion throughout the Institute. In
programmes which was two years in preparation.
an impressive snapshot, it highlights many of the considerable
The first stage is called an application to maintain a
successes in recent times and
research degree register. Initially HETAC can only
since ITT Dublin opened in 1992.
delegate authority to the Institute to manage and
monitor the whole registration and assessment process.
This is due to the differences that exist between research
degree programmes and those delivered in formal
taught mode. The second stage involves applying to
manage the overall thesis submission and examination
process and involves the preparation and submission
of yet another self-evaluation report.
For all those interested in research and innovation and anyone who wishes to catch up
on what is happening at ITT Dublin, it is not to be missed. For
a downloadable version and to read more about research
and innovation in general visit www.ittdublin.ie and click on
Research at ITT Dublin. For a hard copy email Muire Coby at
muire.coby@ittdublin.ie.
This first stage, to enable the Institute to maintain its own
register of postgraduates, has been successful. HETAC
will allow us to manage stage one (registration and
assessment) for the areas where research has been
most active. ITT Dublin is submitting an application for
its Masters or Level 9 research degree programmes in
Engineering, Science and Computing and for its PhD
or Level 10 programmes in Biology and Chemistry since
this has been where the most graduates have occurred
to date.
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G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
29
Research and Innovation
A year in the life of
research and innovation
in ITT Dublin – some
noteworthy happenings
in 2006/2007
December 2006
The results of the TSR Strand 3 research competition were
released and ITT Dublin had 2 successful applications
Darius Karcz
and one application on the reserve list. The successful
applicants were the Centre for Research in Electroanalytical
Technology (CREATE – www.ittdublin.ie/create) and the
May 2007
The 3rd Franco-Irish Conference was hosted by ITT Dublin at
Centre for Pharmaceutical Research and Development
the Institute over the 10th and 11th of May 2007. This year, the
(CPRD – www.ittdublin.ie/cprd). Acknowledging another
theme for the gathering was Modernity and Postmodernity in
outstanding performance by ITT Dublin researchers, Dr. Tim
a Franco-Irish Context. Keynote speakers included Dr. John
Creedon, Director of ITT Dublin remarked “This is an excellent
McDonagh (MIC/UL), Dr. Brigitte le Juez (DCU) and Mr. Fintan
result against a very competitive field of over 40 applications. O’Toole (The Irish Times). Mr. O’Toole also launched a book
I would like to thank all who put such tremendous effort
co-edited by Eamon Maher and Eugene O’Brien entitled La
into the applications and to congratulate those who were
France face à la mondialisation/France and the Struggle
successful”.
Against Globalization (New York: The Edwin Mellen Press)
March 2007
and expressed his pleasure at seeing a National Research
Centre of such dynamism established in an Institute of
Under its Embark Initiative, a scheme which attracts the very
Technology, where Humanities wouldn’t traditionally have
best prospective students from the Universities and Institutes
been considered a central preoccupation.
of Technology, the Irish Research Council for Science,
Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) awarded two ITT
In 2008, the next National Centre of Franco Irish Studies
Dublin students with funding. Aidan O’Reilly is a final year
(NCFIS) conference will be hosted in Rennes and will grapple
student in the Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
with the following topic: Secularism and Globalisation in
His proposed project involves the novel application of
France and Ireland. The Director of the NCFIS, Dr. Eamon
haptic technology to physical rehabilitation, and has the
Maher, would love to hear from graduates who might have
support of an orthopaedic surgeon as well as his supervisors,
an interest in pursuing research in any area of Franco-Irish
Dr. Fiona McEvoy and Mr. Paul Dillon.
interest and would urge you to consult the website of the
Centre: www.ittdublin.ie/ncfis, especially in relation to
Darius Karcz is a postgraduate student in Chemistry, who has
postgraduate opportunities.
funding to Masters level. This award will allow him to transfer
to the PhD register and not be dependent on internal PhD
Continuation Funding. He is working in the area of Synthesis,
Characterisation and Anti-microbial Activity of Novel
Transition Metal Complexes with Coumarin Derived Schiffbase Ligands. His supervisors will be Dr. Bernie Creaven and
Dr. Maureen Walsh.
30
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Serge Francois, Fintan
O’Toole, Eamon Maher,
David Irwin and Eugene
O’Brien at the launch
of la France face à la
mondialisation
Research and Innovation
June 2007
The TSR Strand 1 Science & Technology Panel results in
June saw 11 approved applications from ITT Dublin and
2 applications go on the reserve list. An extremely strong
performance by the Institute despite only three out of our
seven Institute Research Centres submitting applications on
this occasion.
There was further success in the
Business & Humanities competition
for Dr. Eamon Maher’s project
entitled “Crossing Borders: The Role
of City & Women in the Poetry of
Charles Baudelaire & Peter Sirr”
which was ranked 10th out of 80
applications.
For more information on the many
and
varied
areas
of
research
and innovation please visit: www.
Patricia O’Sullivan (M50)
Andy Pyle (Shell Ireland and
John Beckett
ittdublin.ie and click on Research at
ITT Dublin.
Innovation
On the innovation side of things, the new ‘Synergy Centre’,
ITT Dublin’s brand new €3.5 million business innovation
and incubation centre opened (read about this in detail
in the article in this newsletter and at www.synergy.ie” and
the M50 Enterprise Program continues to consolidate its
outstanding success in jump-starting
start-up enterprises
having scooped the overall winner and a special award for
best support programme for entrepreneurs at the 2006 Shell
livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. Visit www.
m50-enterprise.ie for more info.
Applied research is also extremely healthy with substantial
funding secured from Enterprise Ireland and from industry for
projects in Mobile Computing and in wireless communications
(RF Engineering). The latter is the largest such project funded
May 2007
The following article appeared in The Irish Independent
on Thursday 31st May 2007 highlighting the ongoing
achievements of the Centre for Pharmaceutical Research
(CPRD), one of ITT Dublin’s designated ‘Institute Research
Centres (IRC). A similar article also appeared in The Echo
newspaper in Tallaght that week. Principal researchers in
CPRD include: Drs. B. Creaven, D. Egan, M. Walsh (ITT Dublin);
Prof. M. Devereux (DIT); Drs. K. Kavanagh, M. McCann (NUI
under the Innovation Partnerships scheme involving an early
stage start-up company. Given the obvious commercial
potential of such projects and maturation of many research
centres, it follows that the Institute is now placing huge
emphasis on the important issues of Intellectual Property,
Intellectual Property Protection (an Institute IP policy was
approved in 2006) and Technology Transfer. Indeed we
are seeking to establish a permanent Technology Transfer
Office to service this need.
Maynooth).
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
31
Research and Innovation
Ever Considered Being Your Own Boss?
Enterprise Start Programmes
As well as offering great facilities and a start-up friendly
atmosphere, Synergy also runs a number of courses to
help would-be entrepreneurs find their feet. The first of
these, the Enterprise Start Programme is aimed at those
who are considering setting up their own business, and
have an idea, but may not be working at it on a full-time
basis. The programme runs on Friday nights and Saturday
mornings to facilitate those in a full time job and takes the
participant through a range of modules including finance,
sales and marketing, business planning and protecting
intellectual property.
The would-be entrepreneurs will get a chance at the
Synergy Centre, ITT Dublin’s newest building on campus
end of the programme to present their business plans to
is home to innovation and enterprise. It provides office
the County Enterprise Board, Enterprise Ireland, Synergy
space and business support to early stage ventures with
Centre Management and representatives from some of
office units available to budding entrepreneurs to rent
the local banks. The next programme will commence on
from €500 per month as well as desk space available by
the 14th of September and you can find more information
the week. The centre is aimed at attracting innovative
on either the Synergy centre, or Enterprise Ireland websites.
businesses that have significant potential as employers,
The cost of the programme is €275.
exporters and innovators.
Synergy Centre offers:
•
14 units of 18sqm to 46sqm for rent from €500 per month (including light, heat, security, cleaning and broadband). This space is perfect for small ventures with high potential
•
The Embryo Room: consists of individual desk space for
rent by the week. This can facilitate up to ten one man woman potential companies who are still investigating the feasibility of their business concept
• The Glasshouse’ training room and separate boardroom, each with plasma screens, DVD and video facilities.
• 8 MB up-down broadband, UPS, wireless broadband in common areas and IP telephony.
• 24 hour access through an electronic swipe-key system
• Full service café
• Wide range of mentoring and networking programmes
32
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Clients On Board
The Centre is filling up rapidly now with ten
companies on board as well as a number of
individuals who are still at the planning stages of
their business concepts. These include:
•ClearTone Technologies: Developers of digital hearing test equipment.
•Global Security Devices: Developers and
manufacturers of innovative access control equipment for the security industry.
•GSG: Are also involved in Innovation Partnership with ITT Dublin.
•Renewable Power Generation: Seller of fixed cost
wind generated electricity to industrial companies.
•Minola Technology: Minola offer a software solution that allows manufacturing companies
to exploit a number of EU Custom and Excise
Duty incentive programmes and can generate potentially millions of euros in savings for these
companies.
•Press Play Ltd: Developing a new tile backerboard for the construction industry. Wirelite Sensors
•Idiro: Documation Assured Web Services
•Skupe Net Ltd: Classified Advertising Solutions
•TiPS
Research and Innovation
While operating in many varied areas ranging from
The M50 Enterprise Programme is an innovative enterprise
renewable energy supply, to wireless access systems,
support programme, provided in partnership by four
to telecommunications, what they all have in common
higher education institutions located in the M50 economic
is the potential to grow quickly, export their product or
corridor. It targets individuals wishing to make the leap
service and become a key part of the Irish economy.
from full-time employment or those in the early stages
of starting their own high potential knowledge-intensive
Plans for the Future
There are a limited number of office units and desk spaces
businesses, and provides them with a range of effective
supports over a twelve month period
left at Synergy Centre, but plans are already in place to
extend the building and become an even busier hub of
innovation. Links with the Institute are strengthening every
day and new programmes are now being developed
that will encourage cross-pollination between students,
businesses and academics.
The M50 Enterprise Platform
Programme
The M50 Enterprise Platform Programme is being
revamped and will re-launch in early 2008 offering those
with a strong business idea with genuine potential the
opportunity to work on it full time for one year under the
guidance of industry experts.
What’s On Offer?
•Clinics: regular expert advice and direction for each individual business.
•Coaching: access to highly experienced programme managers.
•Mentoring: access to experienced business mentors.
•Training: on the key aspects of business planning
and operation Networking, advice and assistance from other entrepreneurs.
•Incubation facilities hot-desk style in a campus environment.
•EI Cord grant for those approved by Enterprise Ireland.
Incubation Facilities
ITT Dublin’s end of the M50 programme is run out of
Synergy centre, the institute’s on-campus business
incubation centre and programme participants will have
access to hot desks and meeting rooms within Synergy
This is not a training programme. Whilst some limited skills-
centre for the duration of the programme.
based training is provided the focus of the programme
is on providing practical supports to entrepreneurs
For more information on this programme please visit
actually building a company. The programme compels
www.m50-enterprise.ie.
participants to leave their comfort zone and follow a
disciplined structured approach designed for success
Graduates of ITT Dublin are always welcome to visit
whilst providing the necessary advice and guidance to
Synergy Centre – whether that’s just for a look around, or
support the participant on that journey.
to discuss a business concept.
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
33
Clubs and Societies
in an Irish College and culminated in winning Best Event for
ITTFM Radio Week by half a point in the Final from IT Tralee
and Mary Immaculate College Limerick. Drama Society
won Best Poster in an Irish College for their double sell out
play “Faust”. The Society also received a special mention
in the Best Society category as did Jonathan Flood in the
Best Individual category.
After a fantastic weekend (9th and 10th March) in Carlow
the hurling team from ITT Dublin reclaimed the Fergal
Maher Cup. Having beaten Letterkenny IT in the Semi-final
on Friday they faced Kings Inns Law School in a repeat
of last years final. Thankfully the only difference this year
Clubs and
Societies news
was the result after been beaten last year by 2 points after
extra time.
With over 40 clubs and societies, catering for many
diverse interests from physical pursuits (sports) to drama
and debating (arts and culture) there is always a hive of
activity when lectures finish at ITT Dublin. 2006/2007 was
another great year for the Institute which included new
societies coming on board in the shape of the Kayaking
Club, Harambee Charity Society, Hip Hop Dance Society,
and Islamic Society as well the continued and consistent
performance of our more established ones. Read on to
find out more about the many successes we had during
the year.
Although we don’t have our own sporting facilities
on campus much use is made by the many available
local facilities and among the many staff and student
infrastructural developments recommended by the HEA
in their Review and Prioritisation of Capital Projects in the
Higher Education Centre in 2004 are a new multi-purpose
student services building (which will include sports/
recreation facilities), an expanded health centre and the
provision of all weather and grass sports pitches. These are
some of the many inclusions in the Institute’s Development
Control Plan 2003-2009.
The success of our societies was illustrated by a fantastic
performance at the BICS National Societies Awards in
April 2007 at the Galway Bay Hotel with ITT Dublin Societies
winning an unprecedented three categories. Only hosts NUI
Galway could match the ITT Dublin sweep and popularity
at the Awards. Radio Society won Most Improved Society
34
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Our lads won in very convincing fashion 4-14 v 0-05. Needless to say the lads had a fantastic weekend and
represented the College both on and off the field in an
exemplary fashion over the entire weekend.
The Mens Basketball Team had a superb achievement
winning the Intervarsity Plate Championship in Cork on
Sunday the 11th of March beating League Champions
IT Tralee 79-66 in the Final. The Team had a fantastic
championship
Clubs and Societies
dispatching of NUI Maynooth, Dundalk IT and UU Coleraine
Division 1 of the newly formed Colleges and Universities
in the group stages and overcoming a very strong WIT Team
League.
in the Semi Final on the Saturday. The competition was
hosted by UCC and was only the 2nd year non Universities
have been included in the competition. Special mention
must go to Captain Ciaran Mac Evilly (3rd Year Business)
and MVP Kevin Gunnar Tope (1st Year Computing). ITT Dublin Hockey Team won the National Indoor
Championships in great style on Thursday the 15th of
March in Carlow overcoming Dundalk IT 3 - 1 in the Final
having earlier beaten IT Carlow and IT Tralee at the semi
and quarter final stages respectively. Congratulations to
all involved.
On Sunday the 25th of March, ITT Dublin Badminton Team
won the Intervarsity Plate in WIT after beating UU Coleraine
4-3 in the semi final and UU Jordanstown 5-2 in the Final. It
ITT Dublin on TV
In April RTE 1’s program ‘Capital D’ featured an excerpt
on ITT Dublin which focused on our sports scholarship
students and their day to day life balancing academic
life with sporting ambition. In particular, it highlighted ITT
Dublin Sports Scholars playing for Shamrock Rovers FC, our
local Eircom League Premier Division Club, and its link with
this Institute and the local community.
Sports, Arts and Culture Scholarships
The scholarship programme was further expanded this
year from 26 to 36 recipients across a broad spectrum of
the clubs and societies with increased sponsorship from
South Dublin County Council to €10,000 and the addition
of a new venture with Shamrock Rovers FC who facilitated
5 full scholarships to the tune of €1500 each.
For more information on Sports and Recreation please
visit www.ittdublin.ie/sports/ or contact our Sports and
Recreation Officer Tim O’Connor at (01) 404 2550 or
sports@ittdublin.ie
had been all of nine years since this event was last won by
ITT Dublin and it was great achievement for our students.
On Wednesday the 14th of April ITT Dublin Fresher Soccer
Team won the Division 2 League Final beating DIT 8-7 on
penalties having drawn 1-1 after full time and extra time.
We will now have Teams in both the Premier Division and
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
35
Newsletter 2007
Ophidiophobia –
An irrational fear of
snakes, not prevalent in all ITT Dublin staff members
apparently! Read on…
and territorial but most calm down with persistent handling.
Both are excellent escape artists, so care must be taken
when planning their housing environment! They can be
found from South Eastern America down into Mexico and
are mostly land dwelling. They’re active mainly at night or
at dusk and dawn and their life span can be up to 20-25
years in captivity, but is generally much less in the wild due
habitat loss and destruction.
Owning a snake has many advantages – they are very
clean, don’t take up much room, they only feed every 7-10
days, relatively easy to breed, quiet and quite inexpensive
to start. The price range on most hatchlings can go from
€70 - €300 but it can range from €400 - €1000 for the more
The very mention of the word “Reptile” for some, is enough
exotic of the species.
to send shivers down the spine. However, snakes and other
They are also excellent
exotic animals are becoming more commonplace in
for scaring away door
Ireland, one of only a few countries in the world that has no
to
record of having wild snakes. Jenny Somers & Nigel Hughes,
neighbours
them, attempt to shed some light into the fascinating world
down
of Herpetology.
includes well over half the 2,700 snake species on Earth.
Corns or Ratsnakes are generally docile, relatively easy to
care for, and very rarely exceed 5ft. They also have the
Owning a snake has many
advantages – they are very clean
, they don’t take up much room,
they only feed every 7-10 days,
relatively easy to breed, quiet and
quite inexpensive to buy
greatest colour and morph variations of all the snakes.
Kingsnakes are so called as they are immune to most other
36
very
and
well
run
at
out
of
sweets!
Seriously though, they
do appear to be a genuine deterrent to wild mice entering
your house.
Captive bred snakes will happily feed on dead mice & rats
which are bought frozen from local suppliers. Snakes will
still instinctively attack and constrict the food item even
though it is already dead. They can eat an item up to three
times their width, dislocating their upper and lower jaws
to accommodate the extra size. Lizards generally feed
on live prey like crickets & locusts. Some, like Iguanas, are
completely vegetarian but others will eat mixes of regular
pet food, greens and the occasional rodent. Keeping mice
in your freezer or live locusts in your house isn’t everyone’s
idea of fun so do your research before you buy!
snakes venom and although not poisonous themselves they
Myths
can be cannibalistic if they’re hungry enough and must be
They live in warm and humid environments where any
housed alone in captivity. They tend to be more aggressive
water on their skin would quickly evaporate.
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
go
Halloween when you
The most commonly kept snakes in captivity are Corn
Getulus). They both belong to the Colubridae group that
salesmen,
unruly children, nosey
both ITT Dublin staff and proud owners of 6 snakes between
Snakes (Elaphe Guttata) and Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis
door
– Snakes aren’t slimy, they’re actually very dry.
Newsletter 2007
Snakes are “ecothermic” which means they can not
or not, standing perfectly still is a
regulate their own body temperature like Humans and other
very good form of defence against
mammals (as they have no hair or sweat glands).They take
getting bitten as snakes’ instinct is to
strike a moving target. As pioneers like
Snakes have no backbone? Wrong!
The have about 8 times the amount
of vertebrae a Human has which
makes them extremely flexible.
Steve Irwin (R.I.P) & Jeff Corwin have
showed us, if we leave them alone
they will leave us alone.
Jenny’s snakes
Precious & Zeus
Contrary to common beliefs and despite being the subject
on the temperature of their environment, typically charging
of classic Hollywood cliché, no black mambas, rattlesnakes
their batteries during the day in the heat, then moving
or cobras even make the top ten most poisonous. There are
around at night to hunt.
approximately 370 venomous species and Tiger & Brown
snakes top the list. The biggest recorded snake is a 33ft
reticulated Python and not an Anaconda. Pythons are the
least evolved of snakes, still showing small spurs at the rear
of their bodies where their hind legs used to be when they
(as some scientists believe) were lizards. Venomous snakes
are considered more evolved.
If we have stoked your interested there’s an excellent
Reptile/Exotic Fish shop near the Institute called Aquatic
Village in Brittas (talk to Lee), we would also recommend
a trip to Reptile Haven in Fishamble Street, Dublin 2 (talk to
Ben). Please remember to do plenty of research as reptiles
are not for everyone and feel free to chat to Nigel or Jenny
for advice.
If snakes don’t do it for you Herpetology has several
alternatives. Lizards are hugely popular ranging from
Common Geckos, Chameleons, Monitors, Bearded Dragons
Snakes have dreadful eyesight but their incredible sense of
to the vegetarian Iguanas. Spiders, frogs, turtles & tortoises
smell more than makes up for this due to a Jacobsons organ
are all considered part of this hobby. The internet has
which decodes the various smells of their surroundings.
some excellent resources also: www.kingsnake.com, www.
Humans are sometimes thought to have had one also,
cornsnake.com, www.anapsid.org, www.petsnakes.co.uk
which we have since evolved from.
and www.pets.ie amongst others.
Snakes have no backbone? Wrong! They have about
Nigel has just invested in a 7ft Python even though he had
eight times the amount of vertebrae a human has which
some reservations about getting a snake bigger than him!
makes them extremely flexible. Snakes and other reptiles do
Jenny has also purchased a Colombian Rainbow Boa. It
not show clear external sexual dimorphism. It can only be
might only be 1 foot long now but it will out grow Jenny by
determined by probing or popping of the hemipenis.
1-2 feet (in all honesty, that’s not hard). I guess it’s safe to
say reptiles are like crisps – you can’t only have one.
So are snakes dangerous? This is a bit of a “how deep is a
hole?” question, yes if the wrong one bites you but why did
Photos by Jenny Somers & Nigel Hughes: Courtesy of Aquatic
they bite you in the first place? They are solitary creatures
Village, Brittas. & Reptile Haven, Fishamble Street. Special thanks to
and except for mating, they just like to be left alone. There
both Lee and Ben. Contact Jenny at Jennifer.somers@ittdublin.ie
are warning signs – rattling of the tail & hissing, (not exclusive
and Nigel at nigel.hughes@ittdublin.ie.
just to Rattlesnakes), forming an S, if the snakes’ body
contorts to this shape they are coiling for a strike. Believe it
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
37
Newsletter 2007
Rant Corner - Let it all out!
We let Business Computing Lecturer Pat Mansfield loose on mobile phone
fiends, loose chippings and useless drivers! (Since some of the editors share
many of his pet hates, this article was always a shoe-in)
My Top Ten Hates, a rant at the
people who give me road rage
- by Pat Mansfield.
argument over the phone, only to drive on nonchalantly a
couple of minutes later as infuriated drivers roared abuse
at her. At least she stopped the car while she was making
the call. But the point is you have all jammed on brakes/
swerved/crashed while trying to deal with a motorist on a
mobile.
3. Taxi drivers
Need I say more?
4. Bus drivers
Fair enough, you’re in the
biggest contraption on the road, but does that mean you
have to force your way out of the bus lane without looking
and indicate as an afterthought?
Many of you will know that Pat Mansfield is a babe and
before you all throw some unmentionable clothing in his
direction, be aware he is talking about being a Born Again
Bike Enthusiast. We all have our gripes when it comes to
the hazards we experience on the roads on a daily basis.
So Pat decided to sharpen the proverbial knife and list his
Ten Biker Hates (in no particular order) unapologetically
making sweeping generalisations about other road users
in doing so.
Okay, they don’t clamp bikes (yet) but if you’ve ever seen
someone coming back to their car just before the dreaded
man in the van is about to render their car useless, only
for the clamper to take a picture of the car and continue
clamping, you’ll agree that they can stick their clamps
where the...
6. Loose chippings
Why do they continue to use this archaic method of
1. Pedestrians
The use of mobile phones/MP3 players renders them
oblivious to junctions/lights/motorists.
5. Clampers
There you are,
driving defensively as you reach a crossroads with the
lights in your favour when Mister Wannabe DJ, with his
oversize headphones, walks out directly in front of you.
You narrowly avoid him as he gives you a look that says,
‘I’m walkin’ here!’ In a perfect world he’d trip over the
pavement on the other side of the road.
repairing our roads? You’re generally doing a fair speed
through a slow corner when you hit the dreaded stones.
The back wheel starts to go and you just manage to get
it back and slow to the appropriate speed. It’s only then
that the ’Slow - loose chippings’ sign rears its ugly head, 50
metres after the road ‘repairs’ began!
7. Manhole covers
Why do they insist on plonking these at the apex of a
2. Mobile phone motorists
I once witnessed a young woman stopping a car in
the middle of a busy road while she had an animated
38
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
corner? And would it not make sense to have a layer of
something on the top that doesn’t have all the grip of an
ice rink?
Newsletter 2007
8. Construction vehicles
Apparently no-one is responsible for builders’ waste being
thrown all over our roads. A pal of mine was so sick of
coming off his bike after hitting piles of wet mud close to
construction sites that he went to the local police station
bike cycles away. And while I’m on the subject, have you
ever seen the way cyclists put out their hand to ‘indicate’
that they’re going to cross three lanes of traffic, but never
once look behind them?
after one incident. He was told to go to the Corporation,
10. Useless drivers
which he did. He was then told to go to the Department
As if there isn’t enough of a case for compulsory basic
of Transport, which he did. They probably told him to
training already, the number of motorists who simply should
take it up with the Dalai Lama but it was too late - he’d
not be on the road is astounding. They don’t indicate,
already given up. This kind of incompetence and lack of
use their mirrors or have any road awareness whatsoever.
accountability is a disgrace.
They hug the overtaking lane on motorways because they
think it’s a ‘fast’ lane - even though they’re only doing 45
mph.
They do u-turns without indicating; possibly one of the most
dangerous things a biker can come across. They generally
break every rule of the road and have no
concept of the hazard they represent to bikers and
motorists in general.
In the UK they have a pretty effective Bike Aware
program – something that is sadly lacking here.
9. Cyclists
Is it just me or do cyclists think they own the road? You
pass the queue of cars waiting at the lights and
slot in in front of them. That’s when a Lance
Armstrong look-alike, complete with tights and
silly hat, stops right in front of you. The lights go
green, the cyclist slows your progress from
the lights and as a result the traffic behind
you is held up. You bear the brunt of car
Time to get off me soapbox now!
All complaints to: Pat Mansfield
email: patrick.mansfield@ittdublin.ie
Terms and Conditions: Complaints may be ignored
drivers’ fury as the guy on the push-
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20,000 hotel rooms worldwide at discounted rates of up to 35%.
RoomexHotels.com is owned and run by Roomex Limited, a wholly owned Irish company based in Dublin.
Visit www.ittd.roomexhotels.com to avail of these rates!
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
39
Campus Development
In June 2003, the Institute made
a submission to the HEA Capital
Review and Prioritisation Working
Group. In September 2004 this
review committee recommended
an expenditure of €45.96 million,
between 2004 and 2008, on the
ITT Dublin campus.
Multi-Purpose/Student
Centre
Services
This is a 4,000 square metre building which will include
sports/multi purpose hall, student restaurant, bar and
students union and welfare offices. The hall will be used
for sports/recreation activities, exhibitions, conferences,
examinations, conferrals and concerts.
Current Site
It is anticipated
that, in addition
to
Phase 1a – (2004 to mid 2006)
this building, an
additional €3.5 m
21.00
will come from the
student fund (restricted reserve) and private donations.
@40.96
Phase 1b – (mid 2006 – 2008)
m
the HEA report for
Catering & Tourism Building 12.66
€5
recommended in
€m
Enabling Infrastructure 7.30
Engineering Building
the
Crèche
€m
This will be a 630 square metre building containing state-
Multi-Purpose Centre 5.00
of-the-art childcare facilities. An application is currently
TOTAL = under active consideration by ADM Ltd. / the Department
€45.96
The details of these developments as set out by the
of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Institute, in line with Phase 1 of the development control
plan, were as follows:
Enabling Infrastructure
The provision of new entrances, roads, mains drainage,
water, gas
and electricity mains, lighting, boundary
treatments,
trenching
and
ducting,
infrastructural
landscaping, fibre optic loop and external sports facilities.
When completed, this project will enable the orderly
development of the campus over all phases of the
implementation of the master plan.
Catering and Tourism Building
This project comprises of a 3,600 square metre facility
which will include kitchens and ancillary areas, lecture
theatres,
classrooms,
bar,
restaurant
and
training
bedroom, staff accommodation, student food hall and
computing laboratories.
Engineering Building
This 925 square metre facility includes accommodation
for research offices and an educational and training suite
for industry. This building will be located at the northern
This project comprises of a 5,210 square metre building
end of the existing building. This project has already been
which will include laboratories, staff office areas,
brought to design stage 3.
classrooms, lecture theatres and computer laboratories.
40
Research Offices and Industrial and
Educational Training Suite
Graduates Association Newsletter 2007
Campus Development
Incubation Centre – ‘Synergy Centre’
Construction commenced in 2005 and was completed in
November 2006. Synergy is a 1,100 square metre facility
including 16 office units, an embryo room for one-desk
entrepreneurs, two research rooms, a boardroom, The
Glasshouse (training room) and a café.
This following proposed development will be funded by
the private sector and consequently, was not included in
the submission to the HEA Capital Review and Prioritisation
Working Group.
PRTLI Centre of Applied Science for
Health (CASH) Building
In August 2007 the Minister for Education announced
that the Institute had been awarded substantial funding,
in excess of €9.2M, under Cycle 4 of the Program for
Research for Third Level Institutes (PRTLI). This was a
significant step in affirming the standard and quality of
research in the Institute on a national stage, and provides
a major opportunity for the future development and
growth of research.
The centre caters for all shapes and sizes of early-stage
business, providing:
• Office space for small ventures with high potential.
• Concept desks for entrepreneurs with an early stage idea
• Virtual tenancy to companies requiring non-physical supports. The proposal is for the development of a Centre of Applied
Science for Health, in collaboration with Tallaght Hospital,
Funding for this project was provided by Enterprise Ireland
(90%) and IT Tallaght (10%).
With the exception of priorities 6 and 8, funding for these
developments will be provided by the Department of
Education and Science.
DCU National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, and NUI
Maynooth.
The funding provides for both capital development on the
campus here, and also for recurrent funds for ourselves
and the partner institutions.
How’s your Handicap?
Citywest Golf Resort is offering ITT Dublin Graduates Association members preferential
rates on both their Lakes Course and their Championship Course.
Monday – Thursday: €20
/
Friday – Sunday: €30
With these special rates you can enjoy the Championship Course with its wonderful parkland setting
- a combination of perfectly manicured fairways, superb greens and beautiful mature trees. Or they
can choose the Lakes Course, with its many water features and impressive bunkers which promise a
memorable and enjoyable round of golf.
People who are considering a round of golf should contact the Pro Shop at (01) 401 0878 to reserve
their tee time and say they are ITT Dublin Graduates Association members. A valid membership card
(sent with this issue) must be presented to display proof of membership. For any other details contact
the resort at (01) 401 0500.
G raduates Association Newsletter 2007
41
Tower Hotel
The new Tower Hotel has opened at Whitestown Way, opposite the Square in Tallaght.
A stylish, deluxe 3 star hotel, it is the third and newest Dublin hotel in the Tower Hotel
Group’s portfolio. After hosting the 2nd Graduates Association Ball in November they
are also kindly offering gym discounts at their Arena Fitness gym to all Association
members and ITT Dublin students.
The rates are as follows:
gym discounts
Open Fairways
Great golfing and accommodation discounts
in Ireland and around the world
50% discounts for members
Open Fairways are providing members up to 50% discounts on their' Golfing
Passports' which enables holders to receive discounts on golf courses in
Ireland and around the world and accommodation in many cases.
Save hundreds improving your swing at 300+ off
Ireland and the UK’s premier courses.
This retails at €149, but members enjoy a rate of ONLY €69! (enter code ITIIRELAND06 online).
The Golfer’s Passport to the UK and Ireland (RRP €179) allows you to test your nerve at all their Irish courses AND
over 1200 courses in the UK and worldwide! This is available for the exclusive rate of only €89 (enter code ITIUK06
online). A 50% discount! Also, enjoy 2 for 1 lessons and 2 for 1 tickets at European Tour events, special rate golf
insurance and discounts on golf holidays.
For more info on how to join visit www.openfairways.com or phone 048 9073 1055
Westpark Gym
A €200 Discount in your first year!
Westpark gym are offering:
€200 discount on new annual membership of their €10 million facility on the Greenhills Road
which boasts the first stainless steel swimming pool in Ireland and some 80 exercise classes per
week.
An exclusive annual membership fee of €550 (normally €675) with NO joining fee (normally
€75) is available to Association members and staff.
You can also take advantage of the monthly offer which includes a reduced joining
fee of €75 (normally €150) with a reduced monthly payment of €53 (normally €63) an annual saving of €195.
Contact Westpark and speak to Alison or Kevin at (01) 462 6911 and visit the website
www.westpark.ie for further details and virtual tours of the gym.
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