Dr Connolly was at forefront of education in County Louth
DR Peter Connolly, Seaford Gardens, Blackrock, who died on June 26 last, was a leading figure in education in this country.
He helped establish the Regional Technical Colleges (RTCs) --now known as the Institutes of Technology and, in his native county of Louth, left an indelible mark on the vocational sector with the many major achievements and developments during his tenure as CEO of Louth Vocational Education Committee ( VEC). From small beginnings as Dundalk RTC, which Peter had overall responsibility for setting up and managing, DkIT now stands as a symbol of excellence in third level education in the North East.
From Dundalk, he was one of four children of the late John and Annie (nee Eastwood), with two brothers and a beloved sister Bernadine, the youngest child to whom he was godfather. He was predeceased in 1999 by brother, Noel who was an anaesthetist. His other brother Harry is a member of the legal profession and practiced as a senior counsel.
His father was originally from Annaville Terrace, Chapel Street and worked as a turner on the Great Northern Railway. His mother hailed from Cookstown, County Tyrone.
She owned a shop at 61 Park Street and the family lived above the shop presently occupied by the Punjab House restaurant.
Peter was the first grandchild and was treated accordingly and spent a lot of his summers in Cookstown with his granny.
His primary school days were spent between the Friary and the Christian Brothers in town, and moved into the CBS Secondary College where he studied through Irish. He was first in the country in the Leaving Certificate examination in 1959.
He studied for his BSc in Chemistry at UCG through Irish. He did his Masters there too, and obtained his PhD (Doctorate) in physical chemistry in Queens University Belfast.
He commenced his employment career in 1966 as a lecturer in Chemistry/Science at the College of Technology, Belfast where he spent three years. He had a six month stint in a similar capacity at City College Norwich from July until December 1969. The following month he took up an appointment as Senior Inspector with the Department of Education and Science which he filled until October 1977. He held the distinction of being the last Inspector, formally assigned to the Technical Institute Branch of the Inspectorate.
Peter’s focus was on Technology /Sciences and he was to the fore in advocating the importance of innovative teaching and learning methodologies and the necessity to make education both real and accessible for all people in Ireland.
This was at a time when it was the norm for most young people to leave school after the ‘Primary Cert ‘ at age 12/13, with smaller numbers staying in education until the then Group /Intermediate certificate at age 14/15 as it then was.
Peter worked with colleagues in the Department of Education & Science – now the Department of Education & Skills (DES) to develop and bring to fruition the establishment of the Regional Technical Colleges (RTCs) that became Institutes of Technology. He served as a judge of the Young Scientist competition for many years.
When he took charge of the County Louth VEC he was responsible for the overarching leading and management of the schools then under the VEC’s remit. During his tenure he ensured that DES supports were put in place to expand the nature and extent of the second level provision in Louth with the expansion and development of schools in Dunleer –Scoil Uí Mhuirí, Bush Post Primary School and Dundalk Vocational School (O’Fiaich College) and in later years Saint Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda. Today, we see the fruits of his significant labours in what are modern, state of the art, high spec. educational institutions, where academic excellence, sits side by side with excellence in skills/craft subjects.
During his 30 year tenure, Post Leaving Certificate/Colleges of Further Education, had their genesis from the VEC sector. Peter, with support from the DES could see the need for programmes which bridged the transition between secondary school, as it then was, and third level, which at that time was not seen as accessible for all.
The establishment of the Vocational Preparation and Training Programmes ( VPTP) 1 and 11 were the precursor of what have now become the QQI Level 5 and 6 programmes in PLC Colleges. Under Peter’s guidance, teachers were encouraged to innovate, to push the boundaries of academic and technical excellence, to enable and support young people to go further in education and indeed to be the first of a generation in most families to have the opportunity to go to third level.
With the support of the then VEC Committee and DES he established O’Fiaich College of Further Education and Drogheda Institute of Further Education. Again from small beginnings these colleges offer 2,000 places to young people each year to access third level education from the local community.
Highly intelligent and very hard working, he was the youngest Chief Executive Officer in the country when appointed to head the Louth VEC in November 1977 and served in the role until he retired in February 2007.
During this time of huge change and innovation in education, the rise of what we then termed Adult Education, now known as (Further Education & Training) FET, was supported wholeheartedly at every opportunity by Dr Connolly, who actively embraced the introduction and indeed piloting in County Louth, of many innovative programmes, which today form constancy in our Education system.
At a time of significant change, development and innovation in the Education system he led out on government policy to enable the amalgamation of Co. Louth VEC with the then Town of Drogheda VEC, to become one as Co Louth VEC.
He was really enchanted by his seven grandchildren; Poppy, James, Feilim, Rory, Sophie, Seth and Reuben. His eighth grandchild, Teagan was born the day after he died peacefully in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Peggy (née Bourton) and children, Garfield, Joanne, John, Roseanne and David, brother, Harry, sister, Bernadine, grandchildren, along with son-in-law Rob, and daughtersin-law Shane and Ellie, and David’s partner Emer, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his brother Dr. Noel Connolly.