New plaque honours professor
NEW ROSS MAN BARTHOLOMEW LLOYD WAS A VISIONARY EDUCATOR
A PLAQUE honouring a New Ross man who became Provost of Trinity College has been unveiled at the Tholsel.
The plaque, which was unveiled by the current Trinity Provost, Professor Patrick Prendergast, honours Bartholomew Lloyd (1771-1837) who was Professor of Mathematics (18131822), Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy (18221831) and Bursar (1816-1819).
Prof Lloyd is credited with modernising courses in maths and mathematical physics by introducing new methods and notation of Laplace and Lagrange.
He was appointed Provost of Trinity College in 1831 and was regarded as a reformist; he introduced three semesters instead of four.
He also developed the distinction between pass and honours level and his change led to further specialisation at degree level. During his Provostship he was elected as President of the British Association and of the Royal Irish Academy.
The unveiling ceremony at the Tholsel was also attended by Dr Ronald Cox who is a well known civil engineering historian.
Dr Cox is currently a visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at Trinity College. The Chairperson of the National Plaques Committee, Brian Smith, was also in attendance at the event and spoke of the significance of Prof Lloyd’s work and also of the work the committee does in honouring people who have contributed to Irish society over the course of the last few centuries.
Prof Prendergast, himself a proud Wexford man, spoke of his honour in following in the footsteps of someone as influential and inspiring as Prof Lloyd.
He said the contribution made by Prof Lloyd to maths, mathematical physics and engineering could not be overstated and it was fitting that he should be remembered in his home town through the erection of the plaque.
Also at the ceremony were the New Ross Municipal District Manager, Sinead Casey, Director of Services, Eamonn Hore, Minister Paul Kehoe, Councillors John Fleming and Willie Fitzharris, and Lorcan Kinsella, from New Ross & District Chamber.