As Michael D. Higgins concludes his term as Uachtarán na hÉireann, the moment invites a warm and thoughtful look back at the extraordinary public life of one of University of Galway’s most distinguished alumni. Few are better placed to offer such reflection than Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Higgins’s lifelong friend and colleague, who provides a rare and personal glimpse into the man behind the office and the depth of his enduring connection to the University. Through public achievement and private loyalty, Higgins’s long association with University of Galway emerges as a defining thread in a remarkable life of service, intellect, and moral commitment.  

Bronnadh Ard-Dioplóma sa gCumarsáid Fheidhmeach ort ó Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. An féidir leat beagán cainte a dhéanamh faoi do chuid ama san Ollscoil? Rinne mé an tArd-Dioplóma sa gCumarsáid Fheidhmeach in 1998 -1999. Bhain mé mo bhunchéim sa Ghaeilge agus Fraincis amach ó Choláiste na Tríonóide i mBaile Átha Cliath. Bhí mé sa tríú bliain den chéim nuair a seoladh TnaG, ar oíche shamhna 1996. Bhí mé i mo rúnaí ar an gCumann Gaelach agus d’eagraigh muid cóisir mhór d’scailt TnaG sa Fleet trasna ón gcoláiste agus bhí an-oíche ann. Chuaigh cara liom, Róisín Ní Chéilleachair go Gaillimh chun tabhairt faoin gcúrsa cumarsáide nuair a chríochnaigh sí an chéim agus is mar gheall uirthi go raibh eolas agam faoin gcúrsa agus gur chuir mé isteach air. Ba é Rónán Ó Dubhthaigh a bhí mar Stiúrthóir ar an gcúrsa ag an am, suaimhneas síoraí lena anam. Bhí an-bhliain againn ar an gcúrsa, chaith muid mí ar an gCeathrú Rua mar chuid den chúrsa. Bhí an-bhéim ar oiliúint ar ghnéithe praiticiúla a theastódh sa saol oibre. Ba é an ‘cúrsa cumarsáide’ mar a ghlaodh muid air an cúrsa le déanamh an t-am sin le post a fháil sna meáin. Bhain mé an-taitneamh as an modúl Dlí na Meán le Marie McGonagle, agus as Léiriúchán Teilifíse le Ciarán Ó Cofaigh, Micheál Ó Catháin agus Brían Ó Donnchadha. D’fhoghlaim muid cén chaoi le clóscríobh freisin ar an gcúrsa, scil atá an-úsáideach sa saol oibre agus nach mbeadh foghlamtha agam murach an cúrsa cumarsáide. Rinne mé taithí oibre tar éis dom an cúrsa a chríochnú sa seomra nuachta in RTÉ i nDomhnach Broc faoi stiúir Phádhraic Uí Ghaora. Rinne mé cairde saoil ar an gcúrsa agus casann muid ar a chéile go minic. Tá go leor againn ag plé le saol na Gaeilge ar bhealach amháin nó bealach eile go fóill.

Maurice McQuillan is the current CEO of Lifes2good Foundation. The Foundation was set up by James and Maria Murphy after business success in Lifes2good. The primary focus of the Foundation is on the environment, but the Foundation also continues with two programmes from the first strategic planning cycle, which focused on women and children in situations of vulnerability. To facilitate this, the Foundation works with diverse organisations, from Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) to CAMFED, who specialise in girls’ education and empowerment in the developing world. In this article, Maurice recollects his experiences prior to and throughout his tenure as CEO of Lifes2good Foundation while he prepares to pass the baton to the next generation, CEO-appointee Philip Murphy.