Live on the Ray D'Arcy Show!

I really enjoyed being interviewed on RTE's Ray D'Arcy Show by the great man himself about the Computer & Communications Museum that I curate.

I have to say in all sincerity that I was struck by not only the professionalism but also the friendliness, humour and down-to-earth nature of Ray and his assistant Niamh.

Photo shows Ray using a 1980 Sony Walkman and me holding a 1980s Motorola mobile phone (aka the 'Brick') whose inventor Martin Cooper was inspired to create this fantastic hand-held piece of communications technology by the 'Communicator' device ("Beam me up Scotty" says Captain Kirk!) from the 1960s children's science fiction television programme Star Trek. Thankfully as a diehard Trekkie fan since my childhood, I am so happy that this series is still with us!

I am glad to report that this great technology heritage facility, that was co-founded by myself and my dearly departed friend Chris Coughlan whom I miss so much, and which has been available for school, university, digital maker, community, heritage and business group visits since 2012, is now open to the general public from 2pm to 4pm every Saturday.
Well worth a visit!

I also enjoyed an interview earlier this week on the same subject with Pat Coyne on Connemara Radio- local community radio at its best.

Supported by the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics (previously DERI) at the University of Galway since its inception, the museum is now managed by an independent board of wonderful experienced techies under the chairpersonship of Philip Cloherty whose members are Frank McCurry, Liam Ferrie, Pat Moran, Alanna Kelly and Tom Frawley.

When We Were Young- the university campus of my Student Days

 In the 2022 Cois Coiribe Magazine out this week, there is an interview with me about life on the university campus during my student days. 

 

What an exciting time it was to be young! Ireland and the world were changing so fast and so many of us wanted to change it for the better.

We were the first in our families to go to third level college, to experience traveling across the European continent (by Interrail), to work summers in the USA (J1 visa programme), to get involved in international campaigns, to live in a city where young people were in the majority…

Lots of students of that era contributed so much good at so many levels to society- in the arts, sciences, business, education, politics, community…

Lots of great friends in the photo with Grainne McMorrow and myself leading a student ‘Education is a Right not a Privilege’ protest.

(p.s notice all the bikes!)

Hope you enjoy the read here.

The Death of a Good Friend from UCG Student Days- Joan O'Brien

Joan O'Brien(second from left) with Maria O'Malley, Trish Harrington & Marcella Corcoran,Graduation Day UCG

A very good friend of mine and of many others died yesterday.
Joan O'Brien was one of the nicest, warmest, loveliest and engaging persons that I have ever had the privilege to befriend whilst I was a student.
Her engaging smile bewitched all those that knew her.
I was lucky enough to be a friend of hers while we were on campus together in what was considered a golden era of UCG and Galway city.
See www.ucgstudents.com .
She was a part of close-knit circle of endearing female students who lit up the lives of so many of us. Their parties were a legend. Whilst I lived in what was then possibly he No. 1 house for disco parties (No 80 Hazel Park), their chalet on Canal Road hosted the most refined, zaniest and wackiest dinner gatherings that Galway possibly has ever known.
A highlight for me & many of my fellow students was to receive an invitation from Joan and the 'girls' to attend dinner in their abode on a Friday night.
Formal dress was expected.
So we would arrive with a bunch of dandelions or daffodils at the door of their tiny damp-lined broken-down chalet dressed in the finest apparel that we could find, usually an eclectic mix of worn-out coloured shirts, mix-matched bow-ties, odd-fitting jackets and rustic floral dresses.Upon crossing the threshold, we would find ourselves entering a magical Arabian Nights world where the aroma of candles and sweet 'n' sour pork would permeate the air, where soft alluring music emanated from an old record-player lying in a corner, where red napkins and broken floral crockery would adorn the table, where smiling females would serve home-brew poteen and cider freshly arrived from the deep vaults of 'Peter Michaels'.On occasions, one of these hardy wenches would, with one powerful strike of a hammer and nail, hit a mysterious silver barrel that would then bring forth a powerful golden river of delicious beer.
Later that night, after much ear-piercing renditions of earthy poetry and rebel songs, these angels would lift up the inebriated menfolk and usher them forth into the darkness of the night before ending up on the floor of the hallowed 'Aula Maxima' in UCG where the male of the species would be expected to dance to the sounds ofHorslips, Boney M, and the Donna Summer as played by illustrious DJs known as the K-Tel Kids & the Big G.

Joan- you and your friends of Maria, Marcella, Rosie & Trish brought so much laughter and goodness into my student days.
Though I have hardly ever seen you since we left UCG, my memories of you and the girls is as fresh and as loving as ever.
I will say a prayer for you tonight
Go gcoinní Dia thú go n-athaontóimid arís

Joan O’Brien-Keogh, Esker, Castleblakeney, Ballinalsoe. Reposing at Franciscan College Oratory, Mountbellew tomorrow Friday from 5. Removal at 7 to St. Peter & Pauls Church, Ballymacward. Mass for Joan O’Brien on Saturday at 1. Funeral afterwards to Killaghán cemetery. Family flowers only, by request. Donations if desired to Cancer Care West.