CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
Garret FitzGerald and T.K. Whitaker
settled down and its evolution to a large
extent mirrored the development of the
new Irish State to which it contributed
new generations of teachers, doctors,
engineers and other key professionals. De
Valera was an outstandingly fair
Chancellor, never letting the bitterness of
civil war politics intrude into the life of the
NUI, taking a great interest in all the NUI’s
activities, presiding with a light touch and
investing the NUI with his own national
and international prestige.
De Valera was succeeded in 1975 by
Kenneth Whitaker who was the first Eamon de Valera
Chancellor to be elected by graduate vote.
Following de Valera was not an easy job, as Archbishop Walsh had the task of As far as UCD is concerned, the NUI has
but just as de Valera had dominated the realising the potential of the 1908 Act, been an integral part of this university’s
political stage, Whitaker was universally FitzGerald had to lead the university in life since its foundation. In the early days
regarded as Ireland’s outstanding public facing the realities of the 1997 Act as especially, it helped maintain high
servant. De Valera had reigned through a history came full circle. Few tasks could be standards, strengthened the sense of
period of stability; Whitaker found himself more difficult, but FitzGerald has done it identity and provided solidarity during
faced with wide and unsettling change with patience, skill and leadership. He has difficult times. It is an association which
and it needed all his expertise and wisdom created a situation where the NUI does has benefited UCD and one which the
to lead the university through the difficult now at least have the option of continuing university has every reason to remember
and fractious debates which culminated in to play a role in promoting higher with some pride and gratitude.
the Universities Act 1997. At all times, education which, while different to what
Whitaker put the national interest above has gone before, is still significant. Professor Maurice Manning (BA ‘64, MA
sectional interests and this, above all else, FitzGerald will resign as Chancellor at the ‘68) is President of the Irish Human Rights
will be seen as his greatest achievement. end of this year and it will be up to his Commission and a long-serving member
Garret FitzGerald succeeded Whitaker in successor and the Senate elected late last of both the NUI Senate and the UCD
1998, again elected by graduate vote. Just year to see if this potential can be realised. Governing Authority.
UCD CONNECTIONS PAGE FORTY FIVE
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84