Colm Ó hEocha
Encyclopedia
Colm Ó hEocha (1926 – 1997) was an Irish scientist and educationalist, who served as president of University College Galway and Chairman of the New Ireland Forum.
Ó hEocha was born in Dungarvan
, County Waterford
, in 1926. His father, Séamus Ó hEocha, known as An Fear Mór, was headmaster of the Irish-language college at An Rinn (Ring), and had become famous as a roving teacher of Irish for the Gaelic League.
Ó hEocha enrolled at University College Galway in 1945, and obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in chemistry under the direction of Professor Thomas Dillon. He was subsequently awarded a scholarship which enabled him to continue his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles
, where he obtained his Ph.D. He is a University of California, San Diego Alumnus, also receiving his Ph.D. from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
in La Jolla, California. Returning to Galway in 1955, he became a lecturer in biochemistry, and was appointed the first Professor of Biochemistry at the university in 1963.
Ó hEocha successfully built up the Department of Biochemistry throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and was notably successful in attracting external research funding to the college. He was appointed Chairman of the Irish Science Council in 1967.
In 1975, following the retirement of Dr Martin J. Newell
, Ó hEocha was elected to the presidency of the college. His term in office coincided with a rapid expansion in the numbers of students attending the institution, doubling during his 21-year tenure, and a corresponding increase in staff numbers.
The Fine Gael
–Labour Party
coalition government established the New Ireland Forum in 1983 as a mechanism to allow the constitutional nationalist parties on the island of Ireland to develop an agreed approach to a settlement of the Northern Ireland
issue. Ó hEocha was nominated by the Taoiseach
Garret FitzGerald
, to chair the forum. Ó hEocha's skill in this role is widely credited with bringing the forum to a constructive conclusion.
Dr Ó hEocha retired as President of UCG on his 70th birthday in July 1996. He was, by then, the longest-serving university president in Ireland.
Ó hEocha also served as Pro-Vice Chancellor of the National University of Ireland
, Chairman of the Arts Council, and Chairman of the Interim Local Radio Commission. He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy
, and a recipient of honorary degrees from Queen's University, Belfast, the University of Dublin
, and the University of Limerick
. He was an honorary life member of the Galway Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and was awarded the Freedom of the City of Galway
in 1995. The Government of France appointed him a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur
in the early 1980s.
Ó hEocha died at his home in Galway on 19 May 1997.
Ó hEocha was born in Dungarvan
Dungarvan
Dungarvan is a town and harbour on the south coast of Ireland in the province of Munster. Dungarvan is the county town and administrative centre of County Waterford. The town's Irish name means "Garbhan's fort", referring to Saint Garbhan who founded a church there in the seventh century...
, County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
, in 1926. His father, Séamus Ó hEocha, known as An Fear Mór, was headmaster of the Irish-language college at An Rinn (Ring), and had become famous as a roving teacher of Irish for the Gaelic League.
Ó hEocha enrolled at University College Galway in 1945, and obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in chemistry under the direction of Professor Thomas Dillon. He was subsequently awarded a scholarship which enabled him to continue his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, where he obtained his Ph.D. He is a University of California, San Diego Alumnus, also receiving his Ph.D. from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, is one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean and earth science research, graduate training, and public service in the world...
in La Jolla, California. Returning to Galway in 1955, he became a lecturer in biochemistry, and was appointed the first Professor of Biochemistry at the university in 1963.
Ó hEocha successfully built up the Department of Biochemistry throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and was notably successful in attracting external research funding to the college. He was appointed Chairman of the Irish Science Council in 1967.
In 1975, following the retirement of Dr Martin J. Newell
Martin J. Newell
Martin J. Newell was an Irish mathematician and educationalist, who served as President of University College Galway from 1960 to 1975....
, Ó hEocha was elected to the presidency of the college. His term in office coincided with a rapid expansion in the numbers of students attending the institution, doubling during his 21-year tenure, and a corresponding increase in staff numbers.
The Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
–Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
coalition government established the New Ireland Forum in 1983 as a mechanism to allow the constitutional nationalist parties on the island of Ireland to develop an agreed approach to a settlement of the Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
issue. Ó hEocha was nominated by the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
, to chair the forum. Ó hEocha's skill in this role is widely credited with bringing the forum to a constructive conclusion.
Dr Ó hEocha retired as President of UCG on his 70th birthday in July 1996. He was, by then, the longest-serving university president in Ireland.
Ó hEocha also served as Pro-Vice Chancellor of the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
, Chairman of the Arts Council, and Chairman of the Interim Local Radio Commission. He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
, and a recipient of honorary degrees from Queen's University, Belfast, the University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
, and the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
. He was an honorary life member of the Galway Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and was awarded the Freedom of the City of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
in 1995. The Government of France appointed him a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in the early 1980s.
Ó hEocha died at his home in Galway on 19 May 1997.